lately

I haven't been reading as much as I'd like in recent weeks.  I did finish another (children's) book called Lord Sunday about a week ago, but I don't really want to review it, as it's the final of seven books in Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom series. I definitely enjoyed the novel, though I'm very glad that the series is over, since I've been reading it over the course of 5 years or so. It was time for it to be done, in my opinion.

I started reading Jeffrey Overstreet's The Ale Boy's Feast, which is the final book in his Aurelia's Colors series. This series has a special place in my heart as it was one of the only series I can remember not finding on my own. Matt actually gave me the first novel a few years ago, saying he had read about it on a website and he thought it might be something I'd like. This was a huge deal for us, since it's extremely difficult for people to pick out books for me, usually because I've already read/heard of the ones they think I might like, or I just have no interest in reading whatever book they suggest at that time. That being said, this was definitely a winner that Matt chose for me all those years ago.

I'm not quite halfway through The Ale Boy's Feast but I'm extremely impressed with Overstreet's writing. I don't think I really paid that much attention to it while I read the first three novels, mostly because I was so absorbed in the story that I just flew through the books. This book, though, has taken me longer to read, mostly because real life keeps getting in the way. However, because it's been taking me more time, I've noticed a lot more about his writing while reading the story. He is able to paint a fantastic word picture with every paragraph that he puts on the page. There are novelists, and then there are storytellers. Overstreet is definitely the latter, making his story come alive through the pictures he paints. I don't think I've ever been more impressed with an author's descriptions than I am with his. So fantastic.

Aside from the wonderful descriptions, the story has moved along well so far. It's a little difficult for me to remember everything that has happened in the other three books, especially in keeping the sequence of events straight, since I last read an installment of the story over a year ago. However, as the plot picks up and moves toward the series conclusion, bits and pieces are starting to come back to me. While it probably would have helped to have reread the other three novels before this one, I can remember enough of the previous storylines that I don't feel like I'm at a disadvantage to readers who may be reading this series straight through. I'm really enjoying this final installment, and I can't wait to see what kind of conclusion Overstreet dishes up for the people of the Expanse.

Modoc

I just finished reading Modoc a couple hours ago, and it was one of those books that read so well I often forgot that it wasn't fiction.  Ralph Helfer writes very well, and while it may help that I am obsessed with elephants, I'm almost positive that anybody would be touched by the story he relates.

Modoc reads like a combo novel/memoir, mostly because the story is so fantastic that it's difficult to believe that so much could happen to one person and one elephant, despite knowing that the entire book is based upon a true story.  It reminded me a little of Sara Gruen's Water for Elephants, just not fictional.

Helfer relates the lives of Bram Gunterstein and Modoc, both born on the same day, during the same hour, at the same place in a small town in Germany.  This connection between their births led to the development of an almost instantaneous bond that could not be broken, no matter the distances or circumstances.  Theirs is the sort of tie that most animal lovers probably wish they could develop, though one this strong seems to be extremely rare, given how most people didn't understand Bram's relationship and the depth of his devotion to her.

Despite the hardships faced by Modoc and Bram, theirs is a story of the love that transcends the boundaries between species.  This was an extremely heart-warming story, though I have to admit to tearing up at the end.  I would strongly recommend this book to anybody who loves animals or enjoys a good story, as it was very difficult to put down.  Besides, Betty White endorsed the novel, and she's essentially the coolest person on the planet, so there's no other recommendation needed.

The Cardturner

I just recently finished reading James Thurber's The 13 Clocks.  I greatly enjoyed this book, but as it is such a classic, I didn't feel like it was my place to review it. Suffice it to say that it was a very quick and enjoyable read that is highly recommended to anyone unfamiliar with the story.

Anyway, I also finished reading Louis Sachar's The Cardturner while I was up in DC visiting some friends with the husband. (Sometimes being an early riser pays off when I'm always looking for reading time).  I haven't read anything by Sachar in a very long time, and I think I always associate him with Wayside School and its various stories, even though he has written several other, better stories.  I ordered The Cardturner on a whim because it looked interesting and (I can't believe I'm admitting this) I'm a bridge nerd.  Now, I haven't played bridge since I was 8, so it's been awhile, but reading this novel brought back a lot of memories of learning the game from my grandparents while my sister and I were in Florida every winter.

The Cardturner is about a young man named Alton Richards.  He's a typical 17 year old growing up, somewhere in the US.  His mom has convinced him since he was young that her favorite uncle was also to be his favorite (great-) uncle, mostly because said uncle was very wealthy, and she was hoping for a large inheritance from him.  So for Alton, his uncle Lester Trapp is just some old relative that he loves and favors out of duty to his family, not because he actually knows anything about Lester or who he is as a person. That all changes when Trapp (Lester) goes blind, and his previous cardturner angers him, causing him to be volunteered by his mom to fill in. Alton grudgingly agrees to go, but he discovers after a while that he actually enjoys spending time with Trapp and getting to know more about him, as well as about the game of bridge.

It is through the context of bridge that the reader learns more about who Alton is outside of who his mother makes him out to be.  The reader discovers bits and pieces of Alton's history, especially between his friend Cliff and his ex-girlfriend Katie, as well as watches the development of his friendship with Toni Castaneda, his uncle's protégée.

It was easy to become invested in the story and the lives of the characters, as Sachar makes them realistic and believable. Also, even if you're not familiar with bridge, Sachar explains the parts of the game essential to understanding throughout the novel, and he goes into more detail in the appendix at the end.  He also doesn't assume lack of knowledge, and he makes it clear when he's going to explain another rule of bridge so that readers more familiar with the game can skip ahead.  While this may annoy some people, I found it a helpful tool to understanding bridge a little better; it was also a way to identify a little more with Alton as I was forced to learn the game with him.

Overall, I thought the novel was well-written and easy to read, and though it ended predictably, this did not detract from the story at all.  I would definitely recommend The Cardturner to anyone looking for a fun, quick read, but if you don't enjoy reading about the rules of games, then this book might not be for you.

The Hidden Gallery

I just finished this second installment in The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series by Maryrose Wood.  It was a fast read, which was probably helped by the fact that I had more recently read the first book than in my previous post.  I'm assuming that there will be more books to follow this one, and the story ended with nothing solved and many more mysteries introduced.

Overall I enjoyed this installment of the series.  It started up a few months after the conclusion of the previous novel, with Penelope Lumley and the children heading off to London while the Ashton estate is repaired following the concluding events of The Mysterious Howling.  Once in London, the Incorrigibles and Penelope have quite an adventure, while Penelope also tries to work through the mystery of the origin of the Incorrigibles.  Nothing is really solved, though much is hinted at, and the end leaves the reader (i.e. me) curious for more.

There was a tiny bit of refreshment as to the events in the previous novel, but it wasn't a full-fledged summary, which was appreciated. I've enjoyed how Wood writes in a style that is similar to Lemony Snicket's in A Series of Unfortunate Events. I agree with one review that I read that said something along the lines of "Reads like Jane Eyre meets Lemony Snicket."  Wood talks to the reader and makes sure that they are familiar with words and phrases that might be unusual, making this an easy series for younger children to read.

By the end of the book, I was left puzzling over clues that Wood had introduced throughout the story but not yet resolved.  I don't think any mystery that's been brought up at this point has been solved by Penelope with the exception of maybe one, and I was left unsure of whom to trust.  There are a couple more characters introduced, and some of the already known minor characters are further developed, but I'm not coming away with deep insights as to where the series is going.  I'm extremely curious to see what happens, which is a good thing, though it makes me impatient for the next installment to be released.  Overall, happy but unsatisfied as all the mysteries have yet to be solved. I can't wait for the next one!