Lisey's Story by Stephen King

I hadn't read a Stephen King book since my teenage years (still get chills thinking about "It"), and I didn't really have much desire to read one now, being kind of a scaredy-cat and all. But, while weeding, I had a look at the blurb for this (having been attracted to its bright red cover) and it sounded interesting so I gave it a go.

Lisey's Story is about a woman, Lisey Landon, whose famous-author husband Scott died 2 years prior. While cleaning out his office full of papers and memorabilia, Lisey's memories are stirred and through flashbacky episodes, we learn more and more details of their 20+ year marriage, Scott's unimaginable childhood, and his special power that takes him to a place called Boo'ya Moon, a place of startling beauty and unnamable terror. While learning more about Scott and his past, Lisey has to cope with a bevy of sisters, one of whom has gone catatonic, though not before speaking to Lisey in Scott's voice (creepy!), a stalker who starts out wanting Lisey to donate Scott's papers to a university, but eventually just seems to enjoy the stalking and threatening more than the scholarly pursuit, and the lonely existence of a 2-years-gone widow who isn't quite sure how to let go of the man who was the biggest part of her life for so long.

I would recommend this to King fans (older ones though; it probably wouldn't appeal to teens because of the heavy emphasis on the marriage), and to people who like an insight into a relationship, but who don't mind creepy stuff and who are able to suspend their disbelief.

His Majesty's Dragon by Naomi Novik

Often referred to as "Patrick O'Brian with dragons," this book is the first of a trilogy (though I think there is actually a fourth book too) about Temeraire the dragon. Novik sets this, her first novel, during the Napoleonic Wars. Dragons are used as members of the Aerial Corps, providing support to Britain's Navy. Capt. Will Laurence of the British Navy captures Temeraire's unhatched egg from a French ship. In Novik's world, when dragons hatch, they bond to the first person with whom they make contact, and that person will be their rider and handler throughout the dragon's lifetime, though partner is probably a better term for it. Laurence selects one of his crew to be there when the egg hatches, but of course, the young dragon selects Capt. Laurence to bond with, effectively ending his Naval career and his nascent engagement to a woman back home. Members of the Aerial Corps must live 24/7 with their dragons, and naturally, that does not leave a whole lot of time for family, friends, etc.

This first novel in the series explores the growth of Temeraire's and Laurence's friendship (one sweet touch: Laurence often reads books to Temeraire before bed), and covers the demanding training they must undergo before they can join in battle with the French. Laurence stumbles along, never having chosen this career (most Aerial Corps members are selected when much younger), trying to figure out how to come to terms with his new life and new lifemate. The dragons can talk and they definitely have emotions, and Temeraire is really quite a lovely character and Novik develops him beautifully throughout the course of the novel. It was interesting to see Laurence adapt and change as he became closer and closer to Temeraire. There are several heartbreaking sequences involving a neglected dragon and his haughty handler; these really showed how Novik made the dragons as real as humans and capable of evoking much sympathy from the reader.

The battle sequences are really neat--these dragons are HUGE, so much so that a crew of 20 or so men can ride one during a mission. The dragons are equipped with elaborate harnesses that allow men to scramble all over the dragon, dropping bombs and firing rifles from various positions, and of course, treating wounds that the dragons receive during battle.

I would recommend this to fans of fantasy and historical fiction alike; the fantasy element is limited to the dragons, but once you accept that the dragons are there, they are treated very much like a historical fact; no magic or witches floating around.

This series was originally published in mass-market paperback, so you'll find it in SciFi Paperback.

Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow by Susan Bartoletti

This picture history is a fascinating view of the 12-20 year olds who thought Hitler was more than just their leader but a new God come to save food starved Germany in 1933 with a plan to put food on the table and give them something to do with their time and bodies. Hitler wanted them to be physically fit and solid golden Germans, (no Jewish, Polish, Slavic blood or forbidden Gypsy background in his new Germany.) So what if you got C's in school, if you were physically fit, handsome boys and girls, your parents would be proud. And if they weren't proud, why turn them in to the Gestapo. Betray teachers, priests and other clergy, parents, best friends who tried to march to a different drummer, heard a different song. Betray they did, and some who quietly fought as resisters in the "White Rose" like founders Hans and Sophie Scholl literally lost their heads! Could this happen again... are youth of any culture too vain to see when someone is pulling their string? It haunts the survivors, now in their seventies and eighties, those who renounce their past and those who still try to justify what some of them did in the name of ethnic purity and cleansing. Take a look at it for a few minutes, listen to the superior book on cd, and you can place yourself in either side, neither came out victorious. As the narrator of Romeo and Juliet in closing tells us, "All are punished!!" ****

Seventh Son of a Seventh Son = Terror

Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney from his new Last Apprentice series is a fine first novel from "England's boggart territory" according to the book jacket. Young Tom is to be the new apprentice to the Spook, Old Gregory, somewhere in rural nineteenth century England. Tom learns sharing cake with Mother Malkin is no way to keep friends and longs to make a real friend before he dies! Across the way, appears Alice, pointy toed and close to those spirits Old Gregory has spent a lifetime fighting. Friend or Faux?
This was a Black Eyed Susan read for middle schoolers this summer, and I also read and listened to it for the Books for the Beast workshop I just attended last Satuday.
It was highly recommended to me by CRO Middle students and i will now do the same with others. ****
Rich

Free Baseball by Sue Corbett

I read this book today, on a recommendation from Birgit. Free Baseball is one of the 4-6 grade Black Eyed Susan nominees for this year, and since we have our program coming up I thought it might be good to have read some of them.

Anyway, Free Baseball was GREAT. A boy who was brought to the United States from Cuba when he was a baby plays baseball really well and all he really wants to do is go to a "real baseball game". Felix wins tickets to the home opener of the local minor league team, but he also wins a window into his past as his mother is able to use baseball as a segue into his "life story" if you will. Very nicely written, this is a boy book about baseball, but also about the immigrant experience and about the American dream (even if your dream is merely to play baseball...).

A definite must read by a fairly local author!

And don't worry, its quick!