Dandelion Wine (Green Town #1) by Ray Bradbury

"Bradbury captures the excitement and eagerness of Summer, as only a 13 year old boy can feel it. Through the eyes of Douglas Spaulding, we see Green Town, Illinois and the many people and places that make it special. The reader tags along on Douglas' many adventures and learns, just as he does about life, love, loss and practically everything in between."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: Bradbury's writing is so beautifully lyrical/He has the ability to make something as simple as playing hide and seek on a summers night a truly nforgettable experience/Though a standlone novel in its way, it's also peppered with some of Bradbury's memorable short stories, like Old-Fashioned Lime-Vanilla Ice, The Sound of Summer Running, and The Lonely One.

Cons: Though I'm sure it's a generational thing, some of the dialogue between the characters, "gosh, gee golly whiz", was a bit “Leave it to Beaver” at times.

Full Review:

It's the Summer of 1928 and Douglas Spaulding is 13 years old and realizes, with amazement that he is alive!. He feels it in everything. He sees it, smells it, hears it. He's alive as only the young and innocent can be. And he decides that with the help of his brother Tom, they're going to remember this Summer. He'll write it all down, so they'll never forget and he begins with the "Rites and Ceremonies" the things that happen every year. Harvesting the first bottle of Dandelion Wine with his Grandfather, that first game of Statues with his friends and the long, warm nights, resting on the porch, content to listen to the evening sounds pass by on a gentle wind.

This isn't just a story about a boy's summer vacation though, it's so much more than that. Through the Spaudling boys eyes, we see their stomping grounds of Green Town, Illinois and we learn of the many people and places that make it special. The Ravine, the Trolley, Colonel Freeleigh, Mr. Auffman, old Ms. Loomis. Everyone and everything help teach Douglas and Tom about life. They learn of love, loss, friendship, acceptance, change and the inevitablity of death. And it's all told in Bradbury's effortless, elegant way.

Comments

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars. Pros: Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place. Cons: The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact. Full Review: When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...

Fantastic Voyage by Isaac Asimov

"When a scientist, Benes, who has integral and world changing information attempts to defect and join our Side, he's injured. A blood clot forms in his brain and the only way to save his life is to miniaturize the crew of the Proteus and inject them into Benes' body, so they can break up the blood clot from the inside. Of course, one thing after another goes wrong and every chapter is a new catastrophe but it was definitely a fantastic voyage. 2 Stars Pros: Grant is one dry character but he's a welcome bit of amusement in an otherwise serious and scientific novel. Cons: Grant is also SUCH a man that he spends most of the mission staring at saving the one woman board, Cora./Definitely ripe with anatomical lessons and what part of the body they were in. Since I've never been great at anatomy, a lot of it was lost on me and became burdensome near the end. Full Review: As in all things, there is a good side and a bad side. This book is very vague as...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.

"Arnold Spirit, Jr, or "Junior" as he's known on the Rez, does something no Spokane Indian has ever done. He enrolls in Reardon High School and begins the long and often painful process off navigating not only high school and adolescence but also being an outsider. Alexie handles it all with grace, humor and honesty. This was a great read. I would recommend it to anyone." 5 Stars Pros: Alexie handles the ups and downs of not only adolescence, but tragedy and loss in a stark, honest but gut wrenchingly relatable way. Cons: Some of Junior's all-consuming guilt, though understandable was a little repetitive but it's all part of being a teenager. Full Review: It all starts when Arnold Spirit Jr, or Junior, throws a textbook across the classroom. When he opened the book he saw his mother's name, her maiden name and it enrages him. He's furious that the reservation is so poor that they're learning from thirty-year old textbooks. He doesn't...

All the Books.

Search This Blog