botias | Books, Movies, Procrastination (Reply)

It's newsletter time again, so here I am instead. The other night I must have been feeling rich. The boys and I all went to Borders and bought some new bedtime story fodder. We'd read the last of the 'Little House' books. Those were interesting to reread as an adult what with the minstrel shows and child brides, and were good fodder for discussion with the boys as well as being really popular with them. Then we read The Puppet Master, set in medieval Japan. The kids and I agreed that the ending was dark and unsatisfying. I pointed out to them that this was by the author of Bridge to Terabithia, and we all agreed that we should just be grateful that nobody died. Next was Island of the Blue Dolphins which I almost didn't read to them, even though I remembered it being one of my faves at their age. I cracked it not long after it arrived in the mail: 'Today my little brother was eaten by wild dogs leaving me completely alone on a desert island. Not the best day ever.' I thought it might be too upsetting for pre-lights-out fare. In the end, it went over well. Afterward, I looked up the true story it was based on, a rather darker tale, with 100% more putrid seal brains than the fictional version. And... that's when we found ourselves distressingly short of new things to read.

Stuff We Bought

War Horse by Michael Morpurgo. Here, I'm totally indulging myself. I was one of those horse-crazy types at their age (I attribute every one of my legion of flaws to having never acquired a pony--except for my huge sense of entitlement--that's just genetic) and the protagonist is a farm horse taken to serve on the front of WWI. I got it because it might be edumacational, yeah, that's the ticket...
The Multiplying Menace by Amanda Marrone. Sure, this is just a sop for the kids whose folks won't let them read HP fan fiction, but what the heck, doesn't mean it can't be entertaining.
Pendragon: Book One by DJ MacHale. Ditto.
Warriors: Into the Wild by Erin Hunter. There are so many titles in this feline epic that it was hard to find the first book of the first series. We're reading this one now and while it's no Watership Down, the kids like it and it's given me a new insult for our housecat. The feral 'warriors' despise 'kittypets'.
Legend of the Guardians Trilogy by Kathryn Lasky. The kids liked the movie more than most and want to read this next.

I also ordered up some classics/award-winners on PBSwap:

The Sketch Book by Washington Irving. If internet skuttlebutt is to be believed, this is the first 'bestseller' to issue from our shores. We recently read a gorgeously illustrated picture book of a Japanese fable with a similar theme to Rip Van Winkle so I thought I would give it a try, and Ye Olde Headlesse Horseman as well.
The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
Superfudge by Judy Blume. My mom read this to me in the first or second grade, and as I was then a recently deposed 'only child', it really resonated.
The Dark-Thirty : Southern Tales of the Supernatural by Patricia McKissack. You can barely see the cover art because there are so many award badges on the thing. How bad can it be?
James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. It's hard to go wrong with Dahl.

What were your early chapter book faves?

ETA: I forgot to say anything about movies! Rango was not forgetable precisely, but almost. Still, you know how you look at a striking special effect or digital critter and some internal clock starts ticking? How long before it does something 'wrong' is just a little rubbery, too clownish, and the illusion shatters? Rango's clock just kept on ticking for the most part. It was really artistically very accomplished. But, the story didn't work for me, alas. It could be just my plebeian sensibilities. It was very arty. Mars Needs Moms made me weep in places. I was very upset, traumatized, I tell you! (The kiddos were dry-eyed, the callous little monsters!) I am somewhat comforted that a local movie critic, hardened and cynical, reported having the same reaction.