AnnaLovesBooks

Books (89)

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- Under the Tuscan Sun (185)
- By Frances Mayes
- Finished in 2009
  
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Under the Tuscan Sun

ISBN 0767900383 - As a fan of lists, I'm always curious about books that make bestseller lists. I rarely read them, but I'm always curious. This was the case with Under the Tuscan Sun until a rather beat-up, unsellable copy fell into my hands. My curiosity, but little else, has been satisfied.
... (continue)

ISBN 0767900383 - As a fan of lists, I'm always curious about books that make bestseller lists. I rarely read them, but I'm always curious. This was the case with Under the Tuscan Sun until a rather beat-up, unsellable copy fell into my hands. My curiosity, but little else, has been satisfied.
A recap of the plotline is usually the second paragraph for me. The trouble here is that this book doesn't actually have a plotline. The author and her boyfriend bought a house in Tuscany, living there during the summer and restore it and the land around it. Seriously, that's it: no actual point, no build up, not a character to root for (although there were moments I admit to rooting for the house to fall down on them, just to liven things up). So much for the recap!
Beautifully written, Under the Tuscan Sun isn't without redeeming qualities. Tuscany sounds like a bit of Heaven on Earth and Mayes, reputed to be a good cook, turns out to be a decent writer, at least so far as descriptive writing goes. A few short sections are even well-done humor. For that, the richness of language, the way you can nearly smell the food and hear the quiet of the countryside, for that, Mayes gets 5 stars. For boring me nearly to death, ZERO stars! An average of 3 stars seems a reasonable compromise. There are definitely readers for this type of book, I just happen to not be one of them. If you're looking for a relaxing read, this one certainly fits your needs; if you want a storyline, something more exciting than recipes, this book is a snore - if your blood flowed to the rhythm of this book, you'd be dead.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Vittorio, the Vampire (167)
- By Anne Rice
- Finished in 2009
  
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Vittorio, the Vampire

1 person find this helpful

ISBN 0345422392 - Some books suffer, or benefit, from the book I read just before. Vittorio seems to be one of those, following Under the Tuscan Sun, one of the most deadly boring books I've read in a while. I dubbed Vittorio "Under the Tuscan Moon" since, ironically, it too is set in Tuscany. Beyon ... (continue)

ISBN 0345422392 - Some books suffer, or benefit, from the book I read just before. Vittorio seems to be one of those, following Under the Tuscan Sun, one of the most deadly boring books I've read in a while. I dubbed Vittorio "Under the Tuscan Moon" since, ironically, it too is set in Tuscany. Beyond that, I don't think the pair have anything in common.
Vittorio is sixteen in 1450, when his entire family and everyone in his father's castle and the surrounding villages is killed by a groups of demons and he swears he will find a way to avenge their deaths. Ursula is among the demons and is, in fact, the one who spares his life. This is hardly the gift it might seem, as Vittorio sets out to learn more about these creatures. Ursula's developed feelings for the young man and he soon feels the same, a diversion he doesn't really need. Having convinced a pair of angels to assist him in wiping out this nest of vampires (a name he's not familiar with at the time), Vittorio gets his vengeance but finds himself unable to kill the woman who twice saved his life. When she repays his gratitude by turning him into one of them, he begins to live a life he finds loathsome - and it gets worse.
For the second time, I've picked up a Rice novel that doesn't require any knowledge of the rest of her books. This is probably a double-edged sword, because I don't get the feeling that this book represents the best Rice has to offer but, on the other hand, I do like that I can read it without feeling lost.
I did have a hard time buying Vittorio's feelings for Ursula. He knows she was among the group who killed his loved ones, he clearly doesn't value his own life now and is willing to die to avenge those deaths - so why he would feel gratitude that she saved his life is beyond me. Worthy of the short time it takes to read and FAR better than that Tuscan Sun book, Vittorio's story is far more human a tale than you might expect.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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Animal-
s at Play
- Animals at Play (1)
- By Donald J. Crump, K. M. Kostyal
- Finished in 2009
  
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Animals at Play

ISBN 0870447440 - It's hard to imagine that a book from National Geographic could be anything less than superb, especially one that is filled with photos. Animals at Play lives up to that expectation.
From animals most children will recognize, like puppies and chimpanzees, all the way to less ... (continue)

ISBN 0870447440 - It's hard to imagine that a book from National Geographic could be anything less than superb, especially one that is filled with photos. Animals at Play lives up to that expectation.
From animals most children will recognize, like puppies and chimpanzees, all the way to less recognizable ones like the springbok, this book explains how - and a little of why - animals play. The pictures are wonderful, the quality you expect from National Geographic, particularly the sets of the same animals.
The text of the book itself is simple and relatively easy to read. The last page, front and back, is more informative and makes the book a nice little teaching tool, complete with suggestions for other activities to help your child learn more about animals at play. There are a few books listed under "Additional Reading" - these suggestions are clearly geared more toward the teacher, parent, or older child. Worthwhile for a multitude of reasons, the photos topping my list!
- AnnaLovesBooks

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Saving Our Animal Friend-
s
- Saving Our Animal Friends (1)
- By Susan McGrath
- Finished in 2009
  
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Saving Our Animal Friends

ISBN 0870446401 - As usual, National Geographic's photography is the highlight of their book, making the text of secondary interest. The text is simple, easy to read and to the point.
Animals are affected by people and sometimes require help to survive. Alligators killed nearly to the point of ... (continue)

ISBN 0870446401 - As usual, National Geographic's photography is the highlight of their book, making the text of secondary interest. The text is simple, easy to read and to the point.
Animals are affected by people and sometimes require help to survive. Alligators killed nearly to the point of extinction, terns that need a secluded beach free of people and many other animals fill the pages. The photos are fantastic and the last page includes wonderful information to help your child learn more on the topic.
My only gripe is the photo of a "Warning, Proceed with Caution" sign for the protection of manatees includes an obviously speeding boat! Still, even 20 years after being published, the information inside is not outdated at all (which is a bit sad from the animal point of view!). Teaching our kids to value animals can't have a bad side.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Dinosaurs' Halloween (4)
- By Liza Donnelly
- Finished in 2009
  
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Dinosaurs' Halloween

ISBN 0590410067 - There are definitely too few Halloween books that aren't scary; a holiday that's tailor-made for kids shouldn't have to scare the youngest ones! Dinosaurs' Halloween is a short, non-scary story perfect for the smallest trick-or-treater.
A nameless (and seemingly parentless) b ... (continue)

ISBN 0590410067 - There are definitely too few Halloween books that aren't scary; a holiday that's tailor-made for kids shouldn't have to scare the youngest ones! Dinosaurs' Halloween is a short, non-scary story perfect for the smallest trick-or-treater.
A nameless (and seemingly parentless) boy and his dog dress up to go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood. When they meet another trick-or-treater wearing a dinosaur costume, they invite him to join them and the three go door to door together. Bullies pull off their masks and steal their candy - but they're in for a surprise when they go after the new kid.
The illustrations are the better part of the book, especially since the text is very minimal. No separate illustrator is noted on the book, so perhaps Donnelly did them, I don't know. They're not spectacular, but they are nice, with enough detail to make them interesting. The last two pages feature a glossary of dinosaurs and some details about each - an attractive detail that turns this not-bad book into an educational opportunity!
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Skeleton Hiccups (38)
- By Margery Cuyler
- Finished in 2009
  
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Skeleton Hiccups

ISBN 0439479134 - Not-too-scary Halloween-ish books aren't plentiful enough, so even a mediocre one is a good thing. Skeleton Hiccups is, at best, mediocre.
Skeleton has the hiccups and goes through his day, hoping they'll go away. Ghost tries to help, but nothing is working... until, that is, ... (continue)

ISBN 0439479134 - Not-too-scary Halloween-ish books aren't plentiful enough, so even a mediocre one is a good thing. Skeleton Hiccups is, at best, mediocre.
Skeleton has the hiccups and goes through his day, hoping they'll go away. Ghost tries to help, but nothing is working... until, that is, he has a great idea!
My greatest gripe is that the book, available in the school market via Scholastic, isn't really suitable for any child over 5 - it's too simple. That, and the fact that partial sentences ("Played with Ghost." and "Found a mirror.", for example) make up a majority of the text, annoyed me quite a bit. The illustrations are great, the story is cute and the book is probably worth the used price of penny.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Slot Machine (4)
- By Chris Lynch
- Finished in 2009
  
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Slot Machine

ISBN 0064471403 - Books that have gotten multiple awards are usually surrounded by such an aura of "You HAVE to like this book!" that I find my expectations too high. Slot Machine seemed to be one of those - A Best Book for Young Adults, Young Adult Choices for 1997, Winner of a 1995 Bulletin Blue R ... (continue)

ISBN 0064471403 - Books that have gotten multiple awards are usually surrounded by such an aura of "You HAVE to like this book!" that I find my expectations too high. Slot Machine seemed to be one of those - A Best Book for Young Adults, Young Adult Choices for 1997, Winner of a 1995 Bulletin Blue Ribbon, and A Recommended Book for Reluctant Young Adult Readers... that's a lot to live up to! To my surprise, it does!
Elvin and his friends go to a summer retreat known as Twenty-One Nights with the Knights. Elvin's got a negative outlook from the start and things immediately live down to that perspective. Not, in any way, athletic, Elvin struggles as he is pushed to fit into a "slot". Everyone, they tell him, has a slot - and all of those slots are athletic. After proving that he's definitely not an athlete, and making an unpleasant discovery about the "in" crowd guys, he reaches bottom. And he finds that he likes it there! He's not alone, and it's clearly his "slot".
I can see why Slot Machine would get a Reluctant Reader award - Elvin might be more of a misfit than the reader, but almost every young adult FEELS like a misfit at some time! He's a funny character, with a bit of the smart-aleck. Lynch does a really nice job with all his characters, leaving me wishing for a peek at next year's Twenty-One Nights with the Knights.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Hunchdog of Notre Dame (1)
- (Adventures of Wishbone)
- By Michael Jan Friedman, Victor Hugo, Rick Duffield
- Finished in 2009
  
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Hunchdog of Notre Dame

ISBN 1570642702 - I've been a fan of Wishbone since the first time I happened upon an episode, so I had high hopes for the book series. Any books that can tie in to a popular TV series is bound to attract some young fans and whatever gets them reading is a good thing.
When the kids choose team ... (continue)

ISBN 1570642702 - I've been a fan of Wishbone since the first time I happened upon an episode, so I had high hopes for the book series. Any books that can tie in to a popular TV series is bound to attract some young fans and whatever gets them reading is a good thing.
When the kids choose teams to play roller hockey, an un-athletic boy named Nathaniel is the last chosen - for good reason. Nathaniel has a very hard time staying upright on his wheels and the other team, led by Damont, laughs at him. Samantha decides to teach him to skate and Joe and David become jealous over the time she spends with Nathaniel.
While this is going on, Wishbone imagines himself as Quasimodo, the deformed bell ringer of Notre Dame, who falls in love with Esmeralda because she shows him kindness. Her physical beauty catches the eyes of others, including Quasimodo's master, Frollo, whose jealousy drives him to attempt murder - and let Esmeralda take the blame for it, rather than own up to what he's done.
The parallel between the two stories is a bit vague, but that's not important overall. The current-day story, as always, just serves as a way to introduce kids to classic literature so any small similarity is sufficient; in this case, illustrating a "don't judge a book by its cover/don't judge too hastily" moral. The writing is all right, though not spectacular. Young fans won't mind that Friedman isn't quite a Victor Hugo!
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- The Undertaker's Widow (7)
- By Phillip Margolin
- Finished in 2009
  
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The Undertaker's Widow

ISBN 0553580884 - There are few books I enjoy more than those involving cold-blooded murder, and this one says "cold-blooded murder" right on the cover - a match made in heaven? No, sadly. More like a nap made in heaven!
The husband of senate candidate Ellen Crease is murdered in their bedroom ... (continue)

ISBN 0553580884 - There are few books I enjoy more than those involving cold-blooded murder, and this one says "cold-blooded murder" right on the cover - a match made in heaven? No, sadly. More like a nap made in heaven!
The husband of senate candidate Ellen Crease is murdered in their bedroom. Her immediate response? To kill the killer on the spot, giving her quite a bounce in the polls. Her step-son, however, is certain that she's behind his father's death. Richard Quinn, an almost extraordinarily honest judge, is asked to hear the case, a case that seems tailor-made for a man who will dole out justice to anyone - even another judge.
Lou Anthony investigates the crime. Anthony's a cop who knew Ellen when she was on the force and he's the moral equal of Quinn; he's not about to let the fact that he's friendly with Crease taint his investigation. Various twists and turns, from murder to blackmail, muddy the waters and Judge Quinn, who'd thought his greatest fight would be to save his marriage, finds himself fighting for his life.
There's this weird name thing going on in this book, and it's distracting. Men's names include: Lou Anthony, Leroy Dennis, James Allen, Richard Quinn, Frederick Gideon, Ryan Clark, Jerome Ross, Kyle Fletcher and Art Bradford. Margolin's habit of giving his male characters first names as last names draws attention to that weird pattern and away from the story. The story itself is the sort that is so convoluted, at times, that the reader ought to have no trouble at all staying a step or three ahead of the twists. Not a bad summer read, it's quick, easy and painless... but a bit boring.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- A twist at the end (1)
- a novel of O. Henry
- By Steven Saylor
- Finished in 2009
  
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A twist at the end

ISBN 0684856816 - When I picked up a copy of this book, it was with the hope of selling it for a reasonable price. Usually, I curse the (insert bad word)s who ruin book prices by selling for a penny. In this case, I thank them! Unable to sell it, I thought I'd read it and am glad I did.
Will P ... (continue)

ISBN 0684856816 - When I picked up a copy of this book, it was with the hope of selling it for a reasonable price. Usually, I curse the (insert bad word)s who ruin book prices by selling for a penny. In this case, I thank them! Unable to sell it, I thought I'd read it and am glad I did.
Will Porter was living in Texas when one of America's earliest serial killers started killing. At first, the murders were of blacks, and the city seemed to care little about the loss of life. Porter's interest is at least in part because he is close friends with Dave Shoemaker, who covers the story for the papers. When the killings eventually take two white women in one night - including Porter's one love - the manhunt becomes more serious.
At the same time, the author tells the story of O. Henry - the name under which Will Porter writes, years later, in New York. He is being blackmailed, although who and why are not revealed; he is being hounded by editors that he's promised articles to, and he hasn't got them written. When he is approached by a man who claims to be a friend of a friend, when the man claims that their mutual friend has the answer to who the Servant Girl Annihilator was... Porter sheds O. Henry to go back to Texas for the answer.
While I'm glad I read this book, it's not because it's a great book. It's a good book, with an interesting fictional story that twines together two true stories. That twining together simply muddies up the line between fiction and reality and I think it did a disservice to both stories. Still, the book is well-written, manages to present some possible answers to unanswered questions and gives Porter a nice, clean reason for his embezzlement (which isn't a newly suggested reason, it's just more fleshed-out). I can't help but wonder how the descendants of Grooms Lee, a buffoon in both history and historical fiction, and Eula Phillips, painted a whore here at least, feel about the book. I found myself annoyed that Saylor had Elisabet Ney speaking like Yoda, but that's a small thing. I'd read something else from Saylor, if it was either fiction or non-fiction, but there's something in his style with historical fiction that I won't be seeking out again any time soon.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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Drivin-
g Throug-
h Tonka Town…
- Driving Through Tonka Town. (1)
- Finished in 2009
  
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Driving Through Tonka Town.

ISBN 1593946791 (this ISBN belongs to more than one Tonka Town book) - Little children are bound to love Chuck the Dump Truck. The colors are bright, every vehicle (and most of the buildings and a few other things, too!) has a happy, smiling face and the text is, overall, nice and simple.
Chuc ... (continue)

ISBN 1593946791 (this ISBN belongs to more than one Tonka Town book) - Little children are bound to love Chuck the Dump Truck. The colors are bright, every vehicle (and most of the buildings and a few other things, too!) has a happy, smiling face and the text is, overall, nice and simple.
Chuck the Dump Truck takes a drive around town, stopping to see Jack the Junkyard, Nibbler the Forklift, Soapin' Sam the Car Wash and Sparky the Service Station before heading home, all tired out (pun intended) from his busy, busy day.
It's possible that words like "refueling" and "construction" might require a little explanation, but the images do a pretty good job of conveying the meaning. The pages are a little thinner than most board book pages and bend easier because of it, but they are still easier for young, not quite coordinated fingers to turn than thin paper pages. This is a great set for young readers, especially boys, who tend to be harder to hook on reading. Hopefully, if Tonka releases additional tales of Chuck and his friends, they'll think to assign individual ISBNs to each title so it will be easier to hunt down copies!
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Mommy Loves Her Bunny (1)
- By Josephine Page
- Finished in 2009
  
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Mommy Loves Her Bunny

ISBN 0439443229 - The cover of this book, alone, earned it the fifth star - Mommy and baby bunny are soft, fuzzy and pet-able! The text is okay, and bound to please readers of the sort who think petting a book is cool, if you know who I mean.
Each page features a Mommy/baby set of animals - bu ... (continue)

ISBN 0439443229 - The cover of this book, alone, earned it the fifth star - Mommy and baby bunny are soft, fuzzy and pet-able! The text is okay, and bound to please readers of the sort who think petting a book is cool, if you know who I mean.
Each page features a Mommy/baby set of animals - bunnies, duckies, piggies and mousies - with simple text. Every baby loves their mommy and each Mommy, in turn, loves them back - including people, of course!
I'd really have liked them to carry the touch-y feel-y cover into the pages, but even without that, Mary Morgan's illustrations are very nicely done. There isn't a kid in the world who isn't going to enjoy a book in which he or she makes an appearance, however short (the book ends with "and Mommy loves you!").
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Disney's Winnie the Pooh Everyday (1)
- Everyday
- By Laura Hunt
- Finished in 2009
  
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Disney's Winnie the Pooh Everyday

ISBN 0736400338 - Winnie the Pooh, always a favorite among the shorter people, is a nice way to introduce a child to reading - and bed time!
With short poems, each page features a time of day (Play Time, Nap Time, Bed Time and more) and explains what Pooh does at that point in his day. From wa ... (continue)

ISBN 0736400338 - Winnie the Pooh, always a favorite among the shorter people, is a nice way to introduce a child to reading - and bed time!
With short poems, each page features a time of day (Play Time, Nap Time, Bed Time and more) and explains what Pooh does at that point in his day. From waking up and stretching to counting sheep and all points in between, Pooh's day is just like your child's day - and kids will find that a very good thing.
Ironically, the author of this book is Ellen Milnes, I assume no relation to Pooh's creator A. A. Milne (no "s"), but still an amusing detail. The wonderful images of Pooh throughout his day, done by Angel and Eva Rodriguez and Paul Lopez are absolutely perfect.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- Bear Loves Opposites (1)
- By Kiki Thorpe, Cary Rillo
- Finished in 2009
  
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Bear Loves Opposites

ISBN 0689831013 - I'm having a hard time finding a board book that doesn't deserve 5 stars for one reason or another and Bear here is no exception. From the soft, board-reinforced cover to the bright, glossy pages, it's a winner.
Bear loves opposites - and introduces the young reader to many o ... (continue)

ISBN 0689831013 - I'm having a hard time finding a board book that doesn't deserve 5 stars for one reason or another and Bear here is no exception. From the soft, board-reinforced cover to the bright, glossy pages, it's a winner.
Bear loves opposites - and introduces the young reader to many of them. Play indoors (checkers) or outdoors (soccer); have fun getting dirty, and then have fun getting clean... and much more!
These are the simple sort of opposites that little children can understand and Bear and friends, particularly for fans of the TV series, provide an extra reason for enjoying the book. They'll want the rest of the set - and so do I!
- AnnaLovesBooks

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- My Little Bible (2)
- By Mary Hollingsworth
- Finished in 2009
  
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My Little Bible

ISBN 0849908248 - I am very much not a fan of this stunningly (in a bad way) condensed bible. I am not Christian, but the bible is a fantastic book - and if you're going to introduce your children to it, this is not the best way.
In 42 short stories (20 Old Testament, 22 New), stories from the ... (continue)

ISBN 0849908248 - I am very much not a fan of this stunningly (in a bad way) condensed bible. I am not Christian, but the bible is a fantastic book - and if you're going to introduce your children to it, this is not the best way.
In 42 short stories (20 Old Testament, 22 New), stories from the bible are retold, followed by a question designed to see if the reader/listener was paying attention. Each story is accompanied by a cartoon-ish drawing.
The drawings are all right, ranging from "set in Jesus' day" to "could have been last week", which I didn't like. The cartoon-like appearance of them, however, will appeal to children. The stories themselves are terribly done, because they're so short. As an example, Zacchaeus cheats people, climbs a tree to see Jesus, has dinner with him and stops cheating people. The question, following the story, is "how was Zacchaeus able to see Jesus?" The more important question would be "Why did Zacchaeus stop cheating people?" but that answer is not even IN the story, so no one who didn't already know the story could answer it!
There are so many incredibly well-done children's bibles out there that you shouldn't settle for this one. It's small, and that's nice for little hands, but it's what's inside that matters - and what's inside this one isn't worthy of being called a bible.
- AnnaLovesBooks

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