Happiness is...a good book.

I feel a bit of a sense of loss in not doing the daily book reviews. And yet it was also a bit exhausting and in some ways I don't miss it at all! But I have been doing some reading since I finished my summer reading challenge. And lest you think I've just been slacking away, here are a few mini-book reviews of some of my favorite recent reads to prove it.

The Portable Dorothy Parker
Author: Dorothy Parker
Pages: 626
Age range: adult

Published: originally published 1944
Genre: Compilation?/non-fiction/fiction

Cover Score: ***

Overall Score: ****

Rating: PG-13

Acerbic wit and wisdom in the form of poems, short stories, articles and letters, these are perfect for reading when you are feeling spurned in love or angry at the world.  Here’s just a sampling of a couple of my favorites:
 
INDIAN SUMMER
In youth, it was a way I had
To do my best to please,
And change, with every passing lad,
To suit his theories.
 
But now I know the things I know,
And do the things I do;
And if you do not like me so,
To hell, my love, with you!
 
**********

 
The sun's gone dim 
    And the moon's gone black;
For I love him 
    And he didn't love me back.

Heart-breakers, beware!!

Lost Boys

Author: Orson Scott Card
Pages: 528
Age range: adult

Published: 1993

Genre: Horror

Cover Score: **

Overall Score: ****

Rating: PG-13
 
A horror story disguised as a day-to-day fiction novel.  It makes me never want to have children and have them subjected to the creepiness and horrible things that go on in the world. I’m not sure how I feel about all the churchy stuff mixed in and the characters were almost all completely nuts, and yet the ending somehow worked for me. It creeped me out, but it worked.

The Red Tent
Author: Anita Diamant
Pages: 321
Age range: adult

Published: 1997
Genre: Historical Fiction

Cover Score: ****

Overall Score: ****

Rating: PG-13
 
The fictional biography of Dinah, Jacob of the Bible’s only daughter (ie Israel, as in the 12 tribes of...) This was an interesting look at the ways of life in the time period from the woman's point of view.  It doesn’t follow the religious truths/accuracies I espouse but when I could separate the characters from my beliefs and simply read it as a historical fiction I really enjoyed it

Prudence Wants a Pet
Author: Cathleen Daly

Illustrator: Stephen Michael King
Pages: 32
Age range: 3-7

Published: 2011
Genre: picture book

Cover Score: ****

Overall Score: ****

Rating: G

Prudence will do anything to get a pet.  She has a series of 'non-pets' (a tire, a twig, and a shoe among them) before she finally convinces her parents to get something real.  Darling, clever, and a cute little voice throughout. You’ll giggle, I promise.
 

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette
Author: Jeanne Birdsall
Pages: 252
Age range: 8-12

Published: 2011
Genre: Realistic Fiction

Cover Score: ***

Overall Score: *****

Rating: G

The sisters are back in their third adventure but this time they are being split up to go on separate vacations and their new roles and dynamics lead to a host of new troubles. Oh, how I love the Penderwicks! They are old-fashioned feeling stories with modern appeal. The girls are individually loveable and the writing is superb.  I debated pulling a few quotes but I honestly couldn’t decide which passage was my favorite. So, do yourself a favor and go read them all.

King Jack and the Dragon
Author: Peter Bentley
Illustrator: Helen Oxenbury
Pages: 32

Age range: 2-6

Published: 2011

Genre: Picture book

Cover Score: ****

Overall Score: *****

Rating: G

 
Jack, Zack and Caspar build a castle fort and spend the day fighting off dragons and imaginary beasties. But at the end of the day giants carry off Caspar and Zack and Jack is left to battle the night creatures all alone. An absolutely lovely little tale of courage and imagination with Oxenbury's perfect illustrations, a winner!




Some fun reads in the bunch, don't ya think?  And look how many adult books I managed to squeeze in!  Yes, I am a bit proud of myself.  Pick up one or all and I don't think you'll disappointed. And let me know what you think!


Happy reading!