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June Books
Jun. 30th, 2010 10:47 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
myrna-nora.livejournal.comJune: 4
2010: 34
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Year 7) (2007) - J. K. Rowling
The final book in the series. Although I can't think of anything in particular that should have been left out and I admire Rowlings eye for detail, the last few books in the series could have benefited from some more editing. The camping trip seemed to last forever. (But I loved Hermione's massive purse.) What surprised me was, even though the ending had been spoiled and I never felt deeply attached to any of the characters, I still cried and cried. I liked the series and would consider reading it all over again in the future.
The Children of Green Knowe (Green Knowe Chronicles #1) (1954) &
The Treasure of Green Knowe aka The Chimneys of Green Knowe (Green Knowe Chronicles #2) (1958) - L.M. Boston
Children's audio books make a pleasant listen while I'm cleaning the house or at work. Tolly lives with his great-grandmother in a magical and haunted house. In the first book, she tells him stories of his ancestors during the reign of Charles II and Tolly meets the spirits of the children who lived during that time. It's good in creating an atmosphere and bringing the reader into its world, but there isn't much in the way of driving plot. It rambles along and some parts were boring. In book two, Tolly learns about his Regency-era ancestors, including a young blind girl and the black servant boy who is her friend and guide. Tolly also solves a family mystery. Its the same pace and style, but I found the story(ies) less disjointed and the characters in this branch of the family much more interesting. Both are gentle, slow-moving, and old-fashioned books.
Never Let Me Go (2005) - Kazuo Ishiguro
A group of children are educated at an isolated boarding school. When they are young adults, they are sent into the outside world to fulfill their unusual destiny. I usually like dystopian stories, but this one focus more on the "coming of age" side of the tale. The style is odd, because its the main character's memories. It's series of linking thoughts and incidents rather than a linear story line. She'll make a cryptic remark, then follow it up with, "but first I have to explain about..." and than go off on a completely different track. The storytelling device quickly got irritating (and predictable) when it seemed like it was used every other page. The author spends so much time dropping "subtle" hints that none of the twists come across as shocking. I was frustrated with all the characters because they spend the majority of the book skirting the issues. The narrator comes across as very cold. The questions that would have made it exciting are never addressed. The premise was good, but I hated the execution.
2010: 34
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Year 7) (2007) - J. K. Rowling
The final book in the series. Although I can't think of anything in particular that should have been left out and I admire Rowlings eye for detail, the last few books in the series could have benefited from some more editing. The camping trip seemed to last forever. (But I loved Hermione's massive purse.) What surprised me was, even though the ending had been spoiled and I never felt deeply attached to any of the characters, I still cried and cried. I liked the series and would consider reading it all over again in the future.
The Children of Green Knowe (Green Knowe Chronicles #1) (1954) &
The Treasure of Green Knowe aka The Chimneys of Green Knowe (Green Knowe Chronicles #2) (1958) - L.M. Boston
Children's audio books make a pleasant listen while I'm cleaning the house or at work. Tolly lives with his great-grandmother in a magical and haunted house. In the first book, she tells him stories of his ancestors during the reign of Charles II and Tolly meets the spirits of the children who lived during that time. It's good in creating an atmosphere and bringing the reader into its world, but there isn't much in the way of driving plot. It rambles along and some parts were boring. In book two, Tolly learns about his Regency-era ancestors, including a young blind girl and the black servant boy who is her friend and guide. Tolly also solves a family mystery. Its the same pace and style, but I found the story(ies) less disjointed and the characters in this branch of the family much more interesting. Both are gentle, slow-moving, and old-fashioned books.
Never Let Me Go (2005) - Kazuo Ishiguro
A group of children are educated at an isolated boarding school. When they are young adults, they are sent into the outside world to fulfill their unusual destiny. I usually like dystopian stories, but this one focus more on the "coming of age" side of the tale. The style is odd, because its the main character's memories. It's series of linking thoughts and incidents rather than a linear story line. She'll make a cryptic remark, then follow it up with, "but first I have to explain about..." and than go off on a completely different track. The storytelling device quickly got irritating (and predictable) when it seemed like it was used every other page. The author spends so much time dropping "subtle" hints that none of the twists come across as shocking. I was frustrated with all the characters because they spend the majority of the book skirting the issues. The narrator comes across as very cold. The questions that would have made it exciting are never addressed. The premise was good, but I hated the execution.
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