Author: Cynthia Rylant
Other books by Author: A Fine White Dust, A Blue-eyed Daisy
General Summary and Plot
Aunt May had died and nothing was the same. Summer and Uncle Ob tried for 6 months to live without her and it was not working. Summer was becoming more disconnected and Uncle Ob was becoming weaker.
Cletus Underwood, an acquaintance from Summer’s school that she would rather have stay away, finds his way to Uncle Ob’s trailer. He and Ob become friends and Cletus spends his afternoons there.
One day Ob says he can feel Aunt May’s presence and talks to Cletus and Summer about contacting her somehow. Cletus goes along with the idea but tells Summer he does not believe what Ob is saying, Ob just needs to have some way to keep Aunt Mays memory alive.
They drive to find some woman pastor of a spirit church who claims to contact the dead only to find out that she is dead herself. The trip seemed to be wasted until They try to make the most of it. Summer cries all the way home.
Some how the failed trip began the healing process for Summer and Uncle Ob.
Positive Elements
Aunt May seemed to have been a wonderful woman and had a tremendous impact on Ob and Summer’s lives.
Summer and Ob find their answers somehow and do not even need to contact Aunt May’s spirit to do so.
Cletus allows Uncle Ob to speak of Aunt May freely which probably helps.
Spiritual Content
The spirit church is mentioned, the brochure read but, Summer knew Cletus knew better that to even mention going to church to her and Uncle Ob.
Negative Elements
It is always sad when a person dies and it is evident that they never knew Christ as their Savior. It is beyond me how unsaved family members cope with the death of a loved one. This accounts for the way Uncle Ob about shuts down after Aunt May’s death.
They are trying to contact May’s spirit.
Before they go on the long trip to the church Ob lies to Cletus’ parents about why they are going and exactly where they are going. I am never a fan of lying to one’s parents about anything.
Profanity
"Hell" twice
"Hot damn" once
There may have been more. This is all I noticed.
Sexual Content
None
Violence
None
Overall Theme
Sometimes it is a good friend on a long journey that heals us.
Conclusion
An interesting book. It is hard to put your finger on “I liked it.” or “I hated it.” One of those books you kind of liked but not sure about who to recommend it to, if anyone.
Suggested age group
Middle school on up. Contacting spirits may be a bit confusing to many children.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sour Land
by: William H. Armstrong
Other books by author: Sounder
General Summary and Plot
Anise Stone was struggling to raise his three children and tending to the farm after his wife died. He found help in the most unlikely place, the new teacher of the negro school in town, Moses Waters.
Moses proves to be the best friend the children or their father could have. The Stone family took years of ridicule and “accidents” but they learned all they could from the kind, wise black man while they had the opportunity.
Positive Elements
Anise Stone sees no black and white in a very segregated time period in America’s history. He teaches this vision to his children. He is a good father and friend.
Moses’ wisdom spills out in his actions and his words. Much of his philosophy and advice still applies to the world today.
Spiritual Content
The family (as well as Moses) go to church on Sundays.
Anise and the local store keeper talk about what a godly man Moses is and refer to Psalm 4. Moses is often asked to lead the congregational prayer in church. (a white church)
Moses has three Bibles in his cabin.
In the end a mention of Jesus’ cross is made.
Negative Elements
The town is very obviously racist and segregated.
A family called the Lawhorns keep the negro population (and the negro friendly population) in fear of their “justice”
Despite everything that is done to the negro community no one is prosecuted or punished.
Moses is framed for drinking himself to death.
Profanity
Nigger is used many times.
Sexual Content
A black teen girl is molested.
Violence
A dog is shot in the head and left on a door step as a threat.
The young teen was beaten molested and later died from her injuries.
Moses is hit in the head with a brick and dies.
Overall Theme
Patience and wisdom are all a man needs to touch each person in his world.
Conclusion
That was the way things were. The book tells an unjust story but that was life back then. We are made to realize we all have “Moses’” in our lives and all too often they are taken from us by ignorance long before we have ever learned all we could from them. Over all a very good book, one that even parents would enjoy.
Suggested age group
No younger than middle school, the subject matter and the molestation may even put it in the high school level. The wisdom in it is, however good for all ages.
Other books by author: Sounder
General Summary and Plot
Anise Stone was struggling to raise his three children and tending to the farm after his wife died. He found help in the most unlikely place, the new teacher of the negro school in town, Moses Waters.
Moses proves to be the best friend the children or their father could have. The Stone family took years of ridicule and “accidents” but they learned all they could from the kind, wise black man while they had the opportunity.
Positive Elements
Anise Stone sees no black and white in a very segregated time period in America’s history. He teaches this vision to his children. He is a good father and friend.
Moses’ wisdom spills out in his actions and his words. Much of his philosophy and advice still applies to the world today.
Spiritual Content
The family (as well as Moses) go to church on Sundays.
Anise and the local store keeper talk about what a godly man Moses is and refer to Psalm 4. Moses is often asked to lead the congregational prayer in church. (a white church)
Moses has three Bibles in his cabin.
In the end a mention of Jesus’ cross is made.
Negative Elements
The town is very obviously racist and segregated.
A family called the Lawhorns keep the negro population (and the negro friendly population) in fear of their “justice”
Despite everything that is done to the negro community no one is prosecuted or punished.
Moses is framed for drinking himself to death.
Profanity
Nigger is used many times.
Sexual Content
A black teen girl is molested.
Violence
A dog is shot in the head and left on a door step as a threat.
The young teen was beaten molested and later died from her injuries.
Moses is hit in the head with a brick and dies.
Overall Theme
Patience and wisdom are all a man needs to touch each person in his world.
Conclusion
That was the way things were. The book tells an unjust story but that was life back then. We are made to realize we all have “Moses’” in our lives and all too often they are taken from us by ignorance long before we have ever learned all we could from them. Over all a very good book, one that even parents would enjoy.
Suggested age group
No younger than middle school, the subject matter and the molestation may even put it in the high school level. The wisdom in it is, however good for all ages.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sunday's at Tiffany's
Author: James Patterson with Gabrielle Charbonnet
Other books by Author: Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, The Lake House, Double Cross, London Bridges, The Women’s Murder club (7 books), and many others.
General Summary and Plot
Jane, an eight year old girl, has an imaginary friend, Michael. He is a man in his 30’s who is kind and compassionate; only she can see him. Michael is her one comfort in life, her mother is self engrossed and busy, her father is far away, involved in a life of his own. On Jane’s ninth birthday she becomes too old for an imaginary and Michael says he needs to leave and help someone else. Jane was not going to remember her by the next morning.
Twenty-three years later Jane is not any happier than when Michael left. She has an apartment, a career in her mother’s play production company. Jane wrote and published a play about an eight year old girl and her imaginary friend named Michael. She obviously has not forgotten about Michael as she was supposed to. The man who played Michael in the play is Jane’s hot-shot, arrogant, and egocentric boyfriend.
Michael is in between “assignments” and is resting in New York; he sees Jane and literally stalks her. Jane spots Michael but cannot believe it is him because he is imaginary. He is confused because she remembers him and that was not supposed to happen.
They fall in love but- he is only imaginary, right?
Positive Elements
Sundays is a slightly quirky love story that is well written and mesmerizing (if you are the sappy type.) Jane battles with her weight and with her mother’s opinion of her throughout the book. In the end, Jane realizes she likes the way she is and her mother (as she learns on her mother’s death bed) only wanted Jane not to grow up as hard and as selfish as her mother had become.
Jane stands up to Hugh (her boyfriend) and does not put up with his “sincere” apologies for his behavior. (Remember, he is an actor.)
Michael and Jane are very happy together and complete each other.
Spiritual Content
*There is a discussion between Jane and Michael about whether God is real. Michael determines He is real though He may be a man, woman, beast, or etc.
*Michael wonders why he never hears answers to his prayers.
*Michael ducks into a cathedral to kneel and get guidance about why he has met Jane again.
*In the end, Michael reflects on everything and concludes, all of his prayers were answered, and someone must have been listening.
Negative Elements
Flawed Spiritual views.
Profanity
The cursing is mild except "h..." and "d..." and "s..."
Hugh uses F--- and F—ing once each.
The Lords name is taken in vain
Sexual Content
Hugh and Jane were obviously sleeping together.
A man whom Michael befriends admits women are only sex objects to him.
Chapter 66-67 are way too graphically detailed. Love between Jane and Michael. These Chapters could (and should) have been omitted.
Violence
Jane punches Hugh in the eye. (He deserved it)
Michael punches the “women are a sex-object” man then goes on to punch Hugh in the stomach after Hugh charges at him.
Alcohol and Drugs
There are several “social-drinking” situations.
Overall Theme
Love wins out.
It’s ok to sleep with someone if you are both truly in love.
Be good to yourself, do not let someone determine who and what you should be.
Selfless and kind is what everyone should be.
Make yourself happy and do not take time for granted.
Conclusion
They do get married (we suppose.) Michael becomes real. They are both insanely happy and blessed. It is an odd twist on a timeless story. A shy insecure woman falls in love with a man whose confidence in her inspires her to stand up for herself. This man just happens to be imaginary.
Suggested age group: Adult (if chapters 66-68 are left out as well as the cursing it would be right for teens on up.)
Other books by Author: Kiss the Girls, Along Came a Spider, The Lake House, Double Cross, London Bridges, The Women’s Murder club (7 books), and many others.
General Summary and Plot
Jane, an eight year old girl, has an imaginary friend, Michael. He is a man in his 30’s who is kind and compassionate; only she can see him. Michael is her one comfort in life, her mother is self engrossed and busy, her father is far away, involved in a life of his own. On Jane’s ninth birthday she becomes too old for an imaginary and Michael says he needs to leave and help someone else. Jane was not going to remember her by the next morning.
Twenty-three years later Jane is not any happier than when Michael left. She has an apartment, a career in her mother’s play production company. Jane wrote and published a play about an eight year old girl and her imaginary friend named Michael. She obviously has not forgotten about Michael as she was supposed to. The man who played Michael in the play is Jane’s hot-shot, arrogant, and egocentric boyfriend.
Michael is in between “assignments” and is resting in New York; he sees Jane and literally stalks her. Jane spots Michael but cannot believe it is him because he is imaginary. He is confused because she remembers him and that was not supposed to happen.
They fall in love but- he is only imaginary, right?
Positive Elements
Sundays is a slightly quirky love story that is well written and mesmerizing (if you are the sappy type.) Jane battles with her weight and with her mother’s opinion of her throughout the book. In the end, Jane realizes she likes the way she is and her mother (as she learns on her mother’s death bed) only wanted Jane not to grow up as hard and as selfish as her mother had become.
Jane stands up to Hugh (her boyfriend) and does not put up with his “sincere” apologies for his behavior. (Remember, he is an actor.)
Michael and Jane are very happy together and complete each other.
Spiritual Content
*There is a discussion between Jane and Michael about whether God is real. Michael determines He is real though He may be a man, woman, beast, or etc.
*Michael wonders why he never hears answers to his prayers.
*Michael ducks into a cathedral to kneel and get guidance about why he has met Jane again.
*In the end, Michael reflects on everything and concludes, all of his prayers were answered, and someone must have been listening.
Negative Elements
Flawed Spiritual views.
Profanity
The cursing is mild except "h..." and "d..." and "s..."
Hugh uses F--- and F—ing once each.
The Lords name is taken in vain
Sexual Content
Hugh and Jane were obviously sleeping together.
A man whom Michael befriends admits women are only sex objects to him.
Chapter 66-67 are way too graphically detailed. Love between Jane and Michael. These Chapters could (and should) have been omitted.
Violence
Jane punches Hugh in the eye. (He deserved it)
Michael punches the “women are a sex-object” man then goes on to punch Hugh in the stomach after Hugh charges at him.
Alcohol and Drugs
There are several “social-drinking” situations.
Overall Theme
Love wins out.
It’s ok to sleep with someone if you are both truly in love.
Be good to yourself, do not let someone determine who and what you should be.
Selfless and kind is what everyone should be.
Make yourself happy and do not take time for granted.
Conclusion
They do get married (we suppose.) Michael becomes real. They are both insanely happy and blessed. It is an odd twist on a timeless story. A shy insecure woman falls in love with a man whose confidence in her inspires her to stand up for herself. This man just happens to be imaginary.
Suggested age group: Adult (if chapters 66-68 are left out as well as the cursing it would be right for teens on up.)
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Welcome!
Hello, all future potential readers!
This site is going to be a seperate blog for my book reviews. If you want me to check out a book for you and write a review on it, or if you want to help me write the reviews just let me know.
Hope you enjoy your time here!
Chao! ;)
Lizzi
This site is going to be a seperate blog for my book reviews. If you want me to check out a book for you and write a review on it, or if you want to help me write the reviews just let me know.
Hope you enjoy your time here!
Chao! ;)
Lizzi
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