**spoiler alert** A little slow, but once the Baudelaires discovered the Quagmire triplets, things really started to speed up. The hook of V.F.D. has **spoiler alert** A little slow, but once the Baudelaires discovered the Quagmire triplets, things really started to speed up. The hook of V.F.D. has gotten into me, so I'll have to keep reading until I figure out the mystery. Esme and Jerome Squalor were some of the more tame of the guardians in the series so far, but I think it adds another layer: turning a blind eye or ignoring a problem makes you just as responsible as the ones doing the worse of the discretions. ...more
Another great road trip audio book for the records. Not my favorite of the series thus far, but it still comes away with good themes and teaching lessAnother great road trip audio book for the records. Not my favorite of the series thus far, but it still comes away with good themes and teaching lessons for younger readers, and dark gallows humor for the adults. ...more
If you can find it, listen to the audiobook with Tim Curry narrating. His voice for Uncle Monty sounds like Nigel Thornberry and it's the most perfectIf you can find it, listen to the audiobook with Tim Curry narrating. His voice for Uncle Monty sounds like Nigel Thornberry and it's the most perfect addition to this book. ...more
I thought the devil imagery was a little heavy handed. The Tree House of the Mind and exactly how Ig received his powers are still a bit lost on me, bI thought the devil imagery was a little heavy handed. The Tree House of the Mind and exactly how Ig received his powers are still a bit lost on me, but overall it was a very entertaining story. I appreciate the darkness and the beauty in the story, and I like the message of finding the bright spots of humanity even when you feel like a monster. ...more
Clever, biting, fabulous, and sweet. This one at first glance is easy to fall in love with. I'm so looking forward to journey I have with the show. Clever, biting, fabulous, and sweet. This one at first glance is easy to fall in love with. I'm so looking forward to journey I have with the show. ...more
I had no idea what a stone cold bitch Mary Poppins could be. She's sort of ruthless in the book, but Michael and Jane love her anyway because she sortI had no idea what a stone cold bitch Mary Poppins could be. She's sort of ruthless in the book, but Michael and Jane love her anyway because she sort of has magical, mystical powers that she never explains. A majority of the stories in this book are the original favorites that the movie touched on, but there's a lot that Julie Andrews didn't cover. I'm surprised that there are so many different books in the series. And kudos to Sophie Thompson who was the narrator in the audiobook version I listened to--her voices were great. ...more
I've not seen chapters organized as such as Winslow. One paragraph, one sentence, one word chapters and those are structured in a haiku, free-form poeI've not seen chapters organized as such as Winslow. One paragraph, one sentence, one word chapters and those are structured in a haiku, free-form poetry type of flow. The chapters aren't stagnant with one character; each character's view gets its moment in the spotlight but with an easy merge from one to the next. I'm not usually one for crime, drug cartel, shoot-em-up type movies or books, but Winslow paints a pretty picture with this one. There is some beautiful craftsmanship in this novel. ...more
I recently stage managed a production of "The Snow Queen" that based off of Andersen's fairy tale. Having never heard of the story before that show, aI recently stage managed a production of "The Snow Queen" that based off of Andersen's fairy tale. Having never heard of the story before that show, and afterwards learning that this is what Frozen is very loosely based on, I thought I should read the original to get more insight.
I borrow this on as a hoopla audiobook and I don't know if it's how the story is written or how the narrator is presenting the audiobook but, it seems very strange and disjointed. I've not read many of Hans Christian Andersen to know how this compares with his other tales. By part 4 of the audiobook, the main heroine is still listening to the songs of flowers and crows and not hightailing her ass to rescue Kai. There's no sense of urgency, despite the bits of evil looking glass lodged in Kai's eye and heart, and his capture by a woman has the power to kiss him to death.
The play version kept true to the main plot lines of the tale, but if you're looking for Frozen: The Book, this ain't it. ...more
The only things that are the same when comparing this book to the Will Smith movie version is the name "Robert Neville", the fact that there is a dog The only things that are the same when comparing this book to the Will Smith movie version is the name "Robert Neville", the fact that there is a dog involved in some way, and that Neville hunts vampires. That's it. The rest of the comparison stops there. The book is way more cynical and apocalyptic and there is no real happy ending. Neville is a hard man, with a hard life, and the bits of joy that come into it are quickly dashed with a hard reality. The story itself is great, but the audiobook version I listed to had a narrator who had such an awful "female" voice that it made me physically roll my eyes. ...more
There's a lot of mixed feeling about this. I really loved the awkward teen-ness of the whole thing, but the alter ego come to reality seemed like a baThere's a lot of mixed feeling about this. I really loved the awkward teen-ness of the whole thing, but the alter ego come to reality seemed like a bad soap opera. Things accelerated very quickly, and not necessarily in a good way. But the characters are humorous and it's a quick read despite it's length. ...more
