Arthur, For The Very First Time. Patricia MacLachlan. Illustrated by Lloyd Bloom. 1980/2002. HarperCollins. 128 pages. [Source: Library]
I enjoyed reading Patricia MacLachlan's Arthur, For the Very First Time. Readers meet a young ten-year old boy, Arthur, and journey with him to his aunt-and-uncle's farm for an eventful summer. Arthur is a somewhat troubled young boy. Troubled being VERY relative of course. He's having trouble communicating with his parents. They still haven't told him that he's to have a little brother or little sister. Though he has figured it out himself. He hasn't exactly told them he knows or how he feels about this "happy" event. Arthur definitely spends time wishing things were different but believing that they can't be different. So how does Arthur spend his time? Well, before visiting Aunt Elda and Uncle Wrisby, he spent most of his time writing in his matter-of-fact journal. He spent a lot of time OBSERVING the world around him, but, not necessarily taking part of it. During his summer vacation, however, things will change for the better. Arthur will start living a little bit more--in some cases, a LOT more.
The book is definitely character-driven. I loved that. I loved meeting Arthur, his aunt and uncle, his new friend Moira. I loved meeting some of the animals as well. Like the chicken, Pauline, whom everyone speaks to in French! It was just a very satisfying read.
© 2015 Becky Laney of
Becky's Book Reviews
Hannah Is a Palindrome. Mindy Warshaw Skolsky. 1980. HarperCollins. 128 pages.
On a beautiful warm day in Indian summer, Hannah's father told Hannah and her mother he had something he wanted to show them.
"It's a surprise," he said.
"Hooray!" said Hannah. She loved her father's surprises.
Hannah's mother looked worried. She didn't love Hannah's father's surprises as much as Hannah did. While I didn't enjoy Hannah is a Palindrome as much as
Love From Your Friend, Hannah--one of the sequels to this book--I did enjoy it. In this Hannah adventure, the family moves to Grand View and buys a restaurant/gas station. The family settles into their home-restaurant and opens their business. Hannah is involved in everything--as you might expect. And Hannah's mother begins to garden--something she has wanted to do most of her life but never been able to do since they've never had any land. Hannah's father is continuing to invent things, in this novel, for example, he invents a trap door in the bathroom leading to the cellar, and he invents something that makes nine (square) hamburgers all at once. A small amount of time is spent on Hannah's school life and homework, and, there is a delightful Halloween episode in this one. One of the school chapters is about Hannah being classroom monitor when the teacher steps out of the room. Some time is spent in the restaurant as well--showing Hannah waiting on customers.
Overall, this is an enjoyable historical novel for children set in the early 1930s.
Read Hannah is a Palindrome
- If you enjoy historical fiction and want to meet a great narrator--Hannah is great!
- If you are looking for realistic (but at the same time positive) books set during the Great Depression
- If you like family-friendly books about loving, caring families
© 2012 Becky Laney of
Becky's Book Reviews
Wyrd Sisters. Terry Pratchett. 1980/2001. HarperCollins. 288 pages.
The wind howled. Lightning stabbed at the earth erratically, like an inefficient assassin. Thunder rolled back and forth across the dark, rain-lashed hills. The night was as black as the inside of a cat.Last fall, I discovered the joys of reading Terry Pratchett. This is my first of his adult novels to read. And I did enjoy it very much! It is the story of three witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat, as they attempt to meddle--in a completely non-evil way, of course--with the politics of a kingdom, of a royal family. There is a lost prince--a young person who does NOT know he's the son of the murdered king--living a happy theatrical life. There is the unhappy ghost of the murdered king. And there is the Fool madly in love with Magrat whose sole duty in life is to be loyal to the king--even if this king is a murderer with an unpleasant wife. And then there's Hwel, the dramatic dwarf. I just loved him! There is much to enjoy in this one. The writing is as enjoyable as can be. It's got humor and drama and a certain something that makes Pratchett stand out.
My favorite lines:
Like most people, witches are unfocused in time. The difference is that they dimly realize it, and make use of it. They cherish the past because part of them is still living there, and they can see the shadows the future casts before it. Granny could feel the shape of the future, and it had knives in it. (41)
The duke had managed quite well for fifty years without finding a use for curiosity. It was not a trait much encouraged in aristocrats. He had found certainty was a much better bet. However, it occurred to him that for once curiosity might have its uses. (45)
Particles of raw inspiration sleet through the universe all the time. Every once in a while one of them hits a receptive mind, which then invents DNA or the flute sonata form or a way of making light bulbs wear out in half the time. But most of them miss. Most people go through their lives without being hit by even one. Some people are even more unfortunate. They get them all. Such a one was Hwel. (60)
"What about dwarf bars?"
"You'd hate it," said Hwel, fervently. "Besides, you'd run out of headroom."
"Low dives, are they?"
"Look at it like this--how long do you think you could sing about gold?"
"'It's yellow and it goes chink and you can buy things with it.'" said Tomjon experimentally, as they strolled through the Plaza of Broken Moons. "Four seconds, I think."
"Right. Five hours of it get a bit repetitive." Hwel kicked a pebble gloomily. "Anyway," he added, "you'd get thrown out for being too creative. The actual words are 'Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold, gold.'"
"Is there a chorus?"
"'Gold, gold, gold, gold, gold" said Hwel. (178)
Only in our dreams are we free. The rest of the time we need wages. (195)
© 2011 Becky Laney of
Becky's Book Reviews
Retro 1980s poster design in voxel style for the horror classic Friday the 13th from 1980.
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I really must read some Terry Pratchett this year. Haven't so far!
I didn't like Terry Pratchet, but reading this review , I may just try him again!
Thank you !
thanks! for sharing, must try.
I just started a new book review link up. You should add this.
http://www.whateverdeedeewants.com/search/label/book%20review/