Books of Note

I hope to update this every so often with the books I've been reading lately. Or re-reading as it goes sometimes.

So books of note lately...in no particular order:

Anne of the Island by L.M Montgomery -
This is one of those "childhood memory books". It is worn thin with the many times I've read it. It is the third book in the Anne of Green Gables trilogy and is my favorite. This book follows Anne as she begins college, gets several marriage proposals and finally realizes she's in love with Gilbert. I think when I was younger what drew me to this book was Anne's college life, living in "Patty's Place" with her friends and of course the cats. I can't really describe the cats very well. But suffice to say that its one of my favorite parts. Rusty, Joseph and the Sarah Cat.

And of course her finally accepting Gilbert. This takes the entire book and is so frustrating. Because you as the reader know Anne's mind and know how she feels about him even if she doesn't. And when you see her finally come to that realization, it's wonderful.

I picked this book up recently because I was thinking about Anne and how well those books were written. And I was not surprised to find it as good as I always remembered. Montgomery has a beautiful way of writing and she really captures her characters beautifully. If you've never read the Anne series, I highly recommend it!

So Yesterday - Scott Westerfeld
Tell me a book is written by Scott Westerfeld and I will read it. Without even asking what its about! "So Yesterday" is probably my second favorite Westerfeld book. This book is told from the POV of Hunter. Hunger is a "cool hunter". And least you think this is just something Scott made up, it isn't. Even Frontline did a program about cool hunters. These are people who look for the newest fad or fashion on the street and then put it into "mass production". Scott's book really captures the "art of cool" in its own way. How do things become cool? What makes them not cool? For an adult, Scott really captures the essence of teenagers and the way they relate to the cool factor as opposed to adults.

This is, as far as I remember, Scott's only non fantasy/scifi type book. But yet it almost seems to unbelievable to be real! Do people really hunt cool? Yes they do!
http://www.look-look.com

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone - JK Rowling
I'd really rather call this by its British name, Philosophers Stone, however since I have yet to acquire the Brit edition, I'll have to keep reading the American version. Cause you know us stupid Americans don't get "British-isms". Yeah right. I don't know a single Harry Potter fan who wouldn't rather have the British ed rather than the American one with words changed etc. I have the last three books in Brit editions (and all the American ones of course). And should have at least one more on the way. Yays!

Okay sorry... that was a bit off topic. It just bugs me that that was changed. ANY WAY...
I don't think Potter really needs explaining. But I will say this, re-reading the first book I really gained an appreciation for the why those books became so popular. That first book is so well written, so exciting. It captures the excitment and thrill of that first year at Hogwarts. The pace moves quickly, the characters are exciting... I think (as much as I love the last books) Jo could have cut some stuff out. Yes there was a lot of information, but wow. Sometimes it was just so long! The last book isn't even nearly as long as the fifth and sixth.

The Hero and the Crown - Robin McKinley
This was among my first fantasy YA books that I read. Probably after LotR. I can't exactly remember because it's been awhile. It had also been awhile since I'd read it and the other night I decided to pick it up and re-read it. This is a much older book, was published in 1984. It still has that brilliant writing of being older, and yet is still a timeless story.

The story is about Aerin, the kings daughter. But like most fantasy YA stories, she isn't happy with life in court and decides to become a Dragon Killer. In her time, Dragons however are more about the size of dogs rather than the large creatures we think about. But their is one left, Maur. Her quest to kill this dragon and to find the Hero's Crown lead her on adventures she never could have imagined.

This is one of my favorite fantasy books for it's amazing "shero", as they are more often called these days due to the negative connotation "heroine" seems to bring up. Some of today's female heroes have a tendency to be very rude in their behaviors towards their parents or those in authority over them. Aerin respects her father, and loves him. (her mother has died) She is quite an amazing role model. At least, in my opinion. She does amazing things, becomes the hero of her city and yet all the time still remains "female". I think (going of subject a bit) that's one thing I like about Buffy. To often others have this weird habit of turning strong female characters a little too male.

Anyway... Robin McKinley's books are always brilliant and well written. At least, the ones I've read. :-D I highly recommend this great book. And if you like it, then "The Outlaws of Sherwood".


Well that's all for last month, at least as far as I can remember. Because admittedly I do sometimes forget what I read. I read a lot ya know.