tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095227282638922431.post1774241670236885594..comments2018-08-12T01:02:39.806-07:00Comments on Lisa Adams: Stories Discovered This SummerLisa Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12895464970996463784noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095227282638922431.post-71328920936593282182013-04-11T14:56:16.619-07:002013-04-11T14:56:16.619-07:00The Penderwicks was indeed a delight -- reminded m...The Penderwicks was indeed a delight -- reminded me of the less fantastical end of Nesbit's writing (<i>The Railway Children</i>, perhaps; which I also recommend, by the way). Although the third Penderwicks book seemed to lack a bit of the lightness that the first two had.<br /><br />Percy Jackson is sort of like the pagan version of Harry Potter. (So much fun, saying that... try it on your friends! It has the secondary advantage of being true.) It really is pagan -- where Harry Potter, for all the questions it raises, is obviously Christ-haunted -- and not quite as carefully woven as Rowling's stories, perhaps, but fun. The first book annoyed my with Percy's whininess, but he improved. I've read one book into Riordan's next series, and his style has gotten stronger. Not great literature, but dashed fun to read. <br /><br />Wasn't really interested past the first chapter of Hunger Games so I can't comment on that. Austen is one of the greatest writers in English, and always worth a reread. You have me intrigued at your description of <i>The Night Circus</i>; I'm nabbing it from the library sometime soon. :-)<br /><br />Agree with Daughter of Grace that the Dragonback books are fun -- not Zahn's best writing ever (that would be <i>Blackcollar</i>, perhaps, or more likely the Thrawn books... Ben's predilection for <i>The Icarus Hunt</i> notwithstanding), but surprisingly good in their moral vision. A clear rejection of utilitarianism in favor of something like virtue ethics. Also, it's Zahn. Usually worth a spin. :-)<br /><br />And <i>Fahrenheit 451</i> is beautiful. So is Wangerin's <i>The Book of the Dun Cow</i>.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13294667963336681720noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095227282638922431.post-81731792220331413322012-08-23T11:12:53.024-07:002012-08-23T11:12:53.024-07:00So, after reading your review, I immediately reser...So, after reading your review, I immediately reserved a copy of The Penderwicks from the LCPL. <br /><br />Percy Jackson is a favorite, and definitely one that is goin on my "must reads" for kids. The newer series is also proving enjoyably clever. I can't say as much for Riordan's Egyptian series, though. It smacked too much of spiritism.<br /><br />Another series I recommend are Timothy Zahn's Dragonback series. I can see David enjoying those books when he is 10-12. A fun sci-fi series with some interesting discussions of honor and responsibility.<br /><br />As for adult fiction, have you read Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451? That is one of my favorite dystopian books, to date.DaughterofGracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07213994707714361326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095227282638922431.post-80508577280257001082012-08-22T19:16:16.858-07:002012-08-22T19:16:16.858-07:00I so enjoyed reading this! And yes, I agree that f...I so enjoyed reading this! And yes, I agree that fiction has great value to us. To escape to different times and places....to see things from a pair of eyes so different than our own! I'm interested in checking out some of the books you reviewed since I haven't read all of them. I read some Jane Austen while nursing too. Lol. I love her! Tarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10619386385916707486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6095227282638922431.post-89942622667967929632012-08-22T19:03:12.541-07:002012-08-22T19:03:12.541-07:00Preschool education...Mommy, Teach Me by Barbara C...Preschool education...Mommy, Teach Me by Barbara Curtis. She was a Montessori trained/certified teacher who ultimately pulled her kids out of Montessori to homeschool them. She has 12 kids, several of them adopted, several of them with special needs. She writes to encourage moms that they can teach their children and also kind of promotes the Montessori method (which, I honestly, find really intriguing). I have that one and her second book, Mommy, Teach Me To Read if you want to borrow them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com