True Grit - Charles Portis

Oh Melissa Mc, if only you didn't have your own book blog.  *Sigh*  I shall have to content myself with crying into my pillow...and the occasional guest review.  Thank you so much for sending us this one!

Summary:  Mattie Ross is just 14 years old when a coward going by the name of Tom Chaney shoots her father down in Fort Smith, Arkansas, robbing him of his life, his horse, and $150 in cash. Accompained by the one-eyed Rooster Cogburn -- the meanest available US Marshall -- Mattie leaves home to avenge her father's death and to pursue his killer into Indian Territory.  (Summary and Image from amazon.com)

Melissa's Review:  Mattie Ross, a 14 year old dynamo, is out to exact vengeance on one Tom Chaney, a former work hand for her family. Tom has killed her father, and whether she has help or not, she is determined to bring Tom back to Forth Smith and Judge “Hanging” Parker for justice.

Mattie is able to secure for $100 the assistance of a one-eyed Marshall, Rooster Cogburn. Thus they begin their quest into Indian Territory for the renegade Chaney.

Mattie Ross has become my new favorite adolescent heroine – she’s Scout Finch, but rides a horse and carries a revolver. She shoots, squirms, saves herself from snakes and survives to tell her tale.

The other characters are equally as colorful: Rooster is a former felon, turned law-man with a proclivity to drink. Even though I didn’t see the original movie, John Wayne’s image was superimposed on my brain throughout the novel and it was a PERFECT image. The two also meet up with LeBoeuf, a Texas Ranger who is also on the trail of the menacing Chaney. A somewhat bumbling figure, LeBoeuf adds enough variety to their trifecta to make it interesting.

The prose in this book is stark and sharp – and surprisingly funny! I read it in the car on our way to Tulsa, and through ALL the major towns mentioned in the story: Dardanelle, Fort Smith, Fort Gibson Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), and I laughed out loud at many of the passages. Mattie when describing her opinion of men said, “Men will live like Billy goats if they are let alone.” True Mattie, so very true.

I couldn’t help comparing this book to Lonesome Dove since I read them so closely to each other. Honestly, I could see where McMurtry could have been “influenced” by Charles Portis’ work. In fact, I was expecting Gus and Call to meet up with Rooster, Mattie and LeBoeuf at any of the many outposts where they stopped. But I was amazed at what Portis was able to accomplish in a sparse 200+ pages compared to what McMurtry was able to drag on for 900 pages.

In short, I loved this book.

And Mr. Portis lives a few blocks from my house – you think if I go camp out on his porch he would sign a book for me?!

Her Rating:  5 Stars
 
For the sensitive reader:  Mild descriptions of gun shot wounds, gun fighting and SNAKES!
 
Sum it up:  Good guys, bad guys, and a spunky heroine -- even if you don't read Westerns, this is a MUST!

Gregor the Overlander - Suzanne Collins

Summary: When Gregor falls through a grate in the laundry room of his apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland, where spiders, rats, cockroaches coexist uneasily with humans. This world is on the brink of war, and Gregor's arrival is no accident. A prophecy foretells that Gregor has a role to play in the Underland's uncertain future. Gregor wants no part of it -- until he realizes it's the only way to solve the mystery of his father's disappearance. Reluctantly, Gregor embarks on a dangerous adventure that will change both him and the Underland forever.
Summary from barnesandnoble.com, Cover photo from www.suzannecollinsbooks.com

My Review: Join Gregor and his baby sister, Boots, as they slide miles beneath New York City to the underland. Here you will patronize with the light-skinned violet-eyed people of this obscure world. You will ride on enormous cockroaches and fly on top of bats. You may encounter some sinister spiders, who though useful for their spinning of clothing and catchcloths (diapers), have treacherous webs one must be cautious not to become entangled within. Also beware of the six foot rats. With their razor sharp claws and teeth, they are your most dangerous enemy.

Collins vividly paints the world of the underland so the reader is quickly engulfed within this mysterious world. As you travel with Gregor on his quest to find his father you will find yourself laughing out loud one minute and holding your breath the next and then finally gasping in surprise. This author has a knack for ending each chapter with suspense, making the book virtually impossible to put down. As I read this fantasy with my eight-year-old son I delighted in the emotions the tale was able to evoke.


This is fun fantasy perfect for the 8-12 age group. It is sure to leave children with a delight for reading. With a total of five books, this series promises to be every bit as addicting as the Harry Potter novels, only at a more simplistic level. Worth 8 accelerated reader points, this the perfect series to get your young one hooked on reading. My son and I quickly embarked on the next adventure, The Prophecy of Bane, after closing the covers of this one.

My Rating: 4 stars for me, 5 stars from my 8-year-old

To sum it up: A fun adventure series for the emerging reader.

Also reviewed by Kari.

Forty-Eight X : The Lemuria Project - Barry Pollack

Summary: A colonel with a shadowy past… A new kind of war and warrior… A military science experiment out of control… On the island of Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean, the United States has gathered together its most talented scientists to conduct top secret experiments. Their goal—to create a revolutionary new warrior. A warrior so strong, so valiant, so expendable that the age of “casualties of war” becomes only a sad and distant memory. And so, the Lemuria Project is brought to life—by a Nobel laureate in genetics and a three-star general seeking redemption in a long-lost and forgotten metaphysical civilization.

Haunted by a dark and dangerous past, Colonel Link McGraw is the officer chosen to train and lead these special “soldiers.” In the course of battles to renew his tattered reputation, he, above all, knows what constitutes the perfect soldier. It’s simple: Follow orders, command decisively, make no excuses, and have no regrets.

When Egyptian beauty Fala al-Shohada and Israeli Joshua Krantz, romantically paired archaeologists, stumble across the top secret project, they are determined to uncover its true nature and pursue their quest to the island of Diego Garcia. Science and politics clash, as do Krantz and McGraw, who vie for Fala’s affection. When they discover they aren’t the only ones on the island competing for her attention, shocking truths are revealed.

The future of the entire human race comes to a crossroads on Lemuria. Will humanity find there its loftier spirit or become a lesser species in earth’s evolution? (Summary from book - Image from thrillerwriters.org - Review copy courtesy of publisher)

My Review: I should have heeded the warning on the gimmicky paper seal that held this book when it arrived in the mail: “Warning: Detailed information about the Lemuria Project is contained within this novel.” If I knew then what I know now, I would have set the book aside and saved myself the trouble of learning about what is surely among the least thrilling secret military projects ever devised by aspiring fictioneers.

It’s not that the plot was predictable and the characters wooden; one comes to expect these things from genre fiction, and see past them. In fact, using a stock plot, near-stock characters (aside from the military mens’ unexpected new-aginess, about which more later), and background research that had all the depth of a Wikipedia article should free an author up to focus on grand visions, penetrating insights, or thought-provoking speculation. No such luck here, though; Forty Eight X-The Lemuria Project fills its pages with plodding exposition, dialogue that reads like late-night infomercial transcripts, and platitudinous hand-wringing about the ethics of war and genetic manipulation. Finally, it drags itself to a series of heavily-telegraphed plot “twists” that serve in place of any true climax.

But on the bright side, the novel’s very clumsiness opens the door for moments of true entertainment. The image of a battle-hardened, square-jawed general getting touchy-feely with his flaky “spiritual guide” above the cosmic vortices of Sedona will stay with me for—at least a bit. Such moments abound, thanks to the book’s attempts to shoehorn all of its poorly-fitting themes into a coherent plot. In other words, this one’s for you, B-movie fans and connoisseurs of the unintentionally ironic. All others, consider yourselves warned.

Star Rating: 2 stars. Warning for delicate sensibilities: It’s not the graphic carnage that has the potential to offend so much as the distressingly awkward sex scenes and the cavalier chauvinism with which they’re handled.

Sum it up: Jurassic Park with apes and reincarnation, but with less dramatic tension.

The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan

Summary: Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth--a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet. (Image from bookdweeb.files.wordpress and summary from back of the book.)

My Review: Things start getting complicated for Percy in book #4. It definitely stays PG, but he now has conflicting emotions regarding three different girls. I appreciated how Riordan was able to portray attachments without getting physical (ok, SPOILER: so Annabeth does kiss Percy once, but this is very benign especially considering the circumstances).

Of all the books this one is the most foreboding. You can feel the impending doom that seems to be encroaching upon all society. The Labyrinth is probably what starts this dread. Knowing that it was able to cripple the courage of Clarrise is enough for me to think it's a bad place to be forced into to save the world as you know it.

You learn many cool things that the previous three books have been building up to, such as Grover and his search for Pan. I didn't want to put this book down because I had to know what would happen, but it isn't my favorite of the four. I think that title goes to book #3. It just wasn't as funny, and considering how much suspense and action these books hold the humor balances out the dread. I'm looking forward to finishing the series with the 5th and final book.

Rating: 4 stars

Sum it up: In succession of reading, the most foreboding in the Percy Jackson series yet.

Also reviewed by Mindy.

The Titan's Curse - Rick Riordan

Also reviewed by Mindy.

Summary: When Percy Jackson gets an urgent distress call from his friend Grover, he immediately prepares for battle. He knows he will need his powerful demigod allies, Annabeth and Thalia, at his side, his trusty bronze sword Riptide, and...a ride from his mom.

The demigods rush to the rescue to find that Grover has made an important discovery: two powerful half-bloods whose parentage is unknown. But that's not all that awaits them. The titan lord Kronos has devised his most treacherous plot yet, and the young heroes have just fallen prey.

They're not the only ones in danger. An ancient monster has arisen — one rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus — and Artemis, the only goddess who might know how to track it, is missing. Now Percy and his friends, along with the Hunters of Artemis, have only a week to find the kidnapped goddess and solve the mystery of the monster she was hunting.

Along the way, they must face their most dangerous challenge yet: the chilling prophecy of the titan's curse. (Summary from Powells.com and image from runjeanrun.wordpress.com)

My Review: This was a refreshing read. The characters are growing up, twists and turns abound, more Greek mythology is explored, and it's at the right reading level to capture the attention of adolescent readers. As a middle school teacher, I LOVE it!

I thoroughly love Riordan's humor. Maybe it's because I'm a middle school teacher and that says more about me than it does about the books, but he's seriously funny. My favorite part in this book was the Dam problems. He really ran with that one--the dam snack bar, the dam elevator, the dam parking lot. He manages to mix action/adventure with humor and history--a perfect combination to make a great story.

The second in this series left me needing a break, but this one had me craving more. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. My students say the last book is the best; I can't express just how happy I am to have a series that keeps me wanting more!

Rating: 4.25 Stars

Sum it up: The middle of what is looking to be a great climax of a story!

The Scarlet Pimpernel - Baroness Emmuska Orczy

Summary: In 1792, during the French Revolution's Reign of Terror, an English aristocrat known to be an ineffectual fop is actually a master of disguises who, with a small band of dedicated friends, undertakes dangerous missions to save members of the French nobility from the guillotine. (Summary courtesy Amazon.com)

My Review: Dashing hero, dangerous setting, beautiful woman, a secret society, crafty viliian. Sigh...all the things needed for an action-adventure.

This book is filled with the delicious suspense of watching the heroine slowly discover who the Pimpernel is and realize how terribly she misjudged her actions. The process is terribly romantic and, if you strip away the "cleverest woman in Europe" and the rich dashing nobleman, the fateful misunderstanding between the two is easy to relate to (effective communication is key in any relationship!).

Wikipedia and I agree that the Scarlet Pimpernel is the Batman of the 1790s with the same gorgeous, arrogant and lazy cover that the newer Batman utilizes. (I'll let you guess who I was imagining as the Pimpernel :)

While not literature, this book is a classic and very worth reading. It is set during the French Revolution and describes the actions of the rebellion in a negative way (its hard to sugar coat the daily murdering of 100+ aristocrat men, women, and children). For that reason it was educational and a reminder that I know very little about non-US history. I am now adding "Tale of Two Cities" to my reading list.

My rating: 4 stars

Sum it up: A quick read if you want to snuggle down with a dashing hero for the evening.