Becky's Book Reviews: August 2024

Friday, August 30, 2024

August Reflections

IN August I read 23 books. But three of them were Bibles, so all in all not horrible.

Books reviewed at Becky's Book Reviews

58. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) Suzanne Collins. 2009. 391 pages. [Source: Library] [5/5 Stars] [Dystopia, YA]

59. In and Out The Window. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund. 2024. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Children's Poetry] [3 out of 5 stars]

60. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) J.K. Rowling. 1998. 341 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

61. Grace Notes: Poems About Families. Naomi Shihab Nye. 2024. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [poetry, nonfiction]

62. GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION. Winnie the Pooh: The Graphic Novel Adaptation. A.A. Milne. Illustrated by Travis Dandro. 2024. 248 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

63. Mockingjay. Suzanne Collins. 2010. Scholastic. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopia] [4 stars]

64. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 1999. 435 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [MG speculative fiction]

Books reviewed at Young Readers

104. Sketty and Meatball. Sarah Weeks. Illustrated by Alex Willmore. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [I Can Read Level 1] [5/5 Stars]

105. Schnozzer & Tatertoes #1: Take a Hike. Rick Stromoski. 2023. 144 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

106. Plum to the Rescue Matt Phelan. 2024. 128 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [early chapter book]

107. Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing. Amy Hest. Illustrated by Erin Stead. 2024. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [3 stars]

108. My Extraordinary Face: A Celebration of Differences. Marissa Suchyta and Samir Mardini. Illustrated by Violet Tobacco. 2024. 35 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [picture book]

109. The Blue Bowl. Flo Leung. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book] [3 stars]

110. That's Not My Tiger. [Board book] Fiona Watt. Illustrated by Rachel Wells. 2010/2023. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

111. That's Not My Lion. [Board book] Fiona Watt. 2001/2024. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

112. That's Not My Teddy [Board book] Fiona Watt. Illustrated by Rachel Wells. 1999/2021/2024. 12 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars]

113. That's Not My Tractor... [Board book] Fiona Watt. 2001. 10 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars]

Books reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

39. Advent for Exiles: 25 Devotions to Awaken Gospel Hope in Every Heart. Caroline Cobb. 2024. [September 2024] 240 pages. [Source: Review copy] [4 out of 5 Stars]

40. Tell Me About Jesus. Mary Alice Jones. Illustrated by Pelagie Doane. 1944. 72 pages. [Source: Bought] [4 stars] [children's picture book]

41. Psalms in 30 Days: A Prayer Guide through the Psalter. Trevin K. Wax. 2020. 353 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

Bibles reviewed at Operation Actually Read Bible

16. New Inductive Study Bible. NASB (New American Standard, 1977). God. 1992. 2296 pages. [Source: Bought] [5/5 stars]
17. Life Application Bible for Students. (Living Translation). 1992. God. 1326 pages. [Source: Bought] [5/5 stars]
18. KJV Nelson Regency, 883MC, Giant Print. 1990. Thomas Nelson. 1600 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars]

Yearly and Monthly Totals

Books Read in 2024	238
Pages Read in 2024	63785
January
Books read in January	36
Pages read in January	6875
February
Books read in February	38
Pages read in February	9731
March
Books read in March	39
Pages read in March	6730
April
Books read in April	32
Pages read in April	9367
May
Books read in May	21
Pages read in May	10246
June
Books read in June	24
Pages read in June	8253
July
Books read in July	25
Pages read in July	3980
August
Books read in August	23
Pages read in August	8603

Monday, August 26, 2024

64. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

64. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. 1999. 435 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars] [MG speculative fiction]

First sentence: Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard.

Premise/plot: Harry Potter and his friends are preparing for a third year at Hogwarts. This one starts out in some ways extremely similar to the other two books in the series, but quite different as well. After an INCIDENT with his "family," Harry Potter runs away... Around this same time the magic world is shook by the escape of a prisoner from Azkaban--Sirius Black. Everyone is so distracted/concerned about his escape, that Harry Potter's so-called illegal use of magic is overlooked or quickly pardoned. Most of this school year is concerned with the missing Sirius Black. It is thought that Harry Potter is in even more danger than usual...

Plenty of adventures and misadventures are to be found in the day to day lives of Harry Potter and company.

My thoughts: I certainly did not expect Scabbers--Ron Weasley's rat--to enter into the story in this fashion. I wasn't surprised by other elements of this one. I've learned to expect just about anything/everything from other characters--particularly adults, mostly professors, etc.

I liked this one okay. I didn't hate it. But it also wasn't all that thrilling. Well, it had its thrilling moments towards the end. But for the most part it is all ho-hum. Hermione is super busy taking a million classes at once. Hermione has a "mean" cat. I guess the only other positive thing is that we get a few glimpses of who Harry's parents--their characters/personalities/relationships/etc.

63. Mockingjay

63. Mockingjay. Suzanne Collins. 2010. Scholastic. 400 pages. [Source: Library] [YA Dystopia] [4 stars]

First sentence: I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather. This is where the bed I shared with my sister, Prim, stood. Over there was the kitchen table. The bricks of the chimney, which collapsed in a charred heap, provide a point of reference for the rest of the house. How else could I orient myself in this sea of gray? Almost nothing remains of District 12.

Katniss has made it through her second Hunger Games--just barely. She was "rescued" just in time. Unfortunately, Peeta, her on-screen romance was not. While Katniss is trying to adapt to her new home in District Thirteen, while Katniss is trying to decide whether or not to become the rebellion's "Mockingjay", he is President Snow's prisoner. And knowing that Peeta is in danger--that he is being tortured--is torture for her.

Is Katniss's reunion with Gale a good thing? You be the judge of that. He does bring out Katniss's anger, her aggression. And not always in the right way. For Katniss finds him infuriating to be around at times. Does Gale make a good soldier for the rebellion? Definitely. But just because he's in favor with the rebellion, with President Coin, doesn't mean that he's a good friend--a good partner--for Katniss.

Katniss is still trying to find herself. She's still having people try to shape her, mold her, conform her, define her, limit her. In many ways, President Coin is just as bad as President Snow in trying to "make" Katniss into something she's not. Coin wants her to be "the face" of the war. In a very artificial way--at least at first. Under the circumstances, Katniss has never had the time--the opportunity--to decide anything for herself. She's forced into everything--either directly or indirectly. Is it any wonder she's so confused? (But Katniss does get her moment in Mockingjay.)

Mockingjay is very much focused on war and politics. And with both sides so committed to war, to destruction, to "winning" it shouldn't be much of a surprise that this one is so violent, so bloody, so ugly.

I liked this one. I thought it was compelling--very intense. It is an emotional book--the subject matter makes it so.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

62. Winnie the Pooh (Graphic Adaptation)

62. GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION. Winnie the Pooh: The Graphic Novel Adaptation. A.A. Milne. Illustrated by Travis Dandro. 2024. 248 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: That buzzing noise means something. You don't get a buzzing noise like that, just buzzing and buzzing, without its meaning something. If there's a buzzing noise somebody's making a buzzing noise, and the only reason for making a buzzing noise that I know of is because you're a bee and the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey and the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it.

This is a graphic novel adaptation of A.A. Milne's classic Winnie the Pooh. The original, I believe, has always had *some* illustrations. Now it gets the graphic novel treatment. The dialogue remains much as it always was. Though I haven't read the original in a few years so I cannot say with one hundred percent certainty that all of the dialogue has made the transition. I only noticed a few additions to the text. Notably, the bees get some dialogue which is adorable. This is just the first book, so NO Tigger.

For me the first and second books blend together into "The World of Pooh" (quite literally that is the omnibus edition I grew up with). These illustrations are not exactly like the original OR like Disney. I thought most characters were illustrated fairly well. The only one I did NOT care for was Rabbit. But I did appreciate revisiting the book, the characters, and the HUMS.

Thursday, August 15, 2024

61. Grace Notes

61. Grace Notes: Poems About Families. Naomi Shihab Nye. 2024. 240 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars] [poetry, nonfiction]

First sentence (from the introduction): Families. They're our first circle. We wake up to them as babies, clicking into focus, identifying, absorbing...forever discovering who they are. Who we think they are is only one little window.

First poem:
My whole life
would not have happened without
a man whose name I do not know
who died in the snow.
He was young,
had been married only three months
to my mama's best friend.

This one is a themed poetry collection; it is without a doubt POETRY. But is it also a memoir or autobiography??? I think one could argue that it might very well be. I believe the author is writing personal poems about HER family. But it's not described as a memoir in its description so I'm hesitant to say emphatically that all the poems are autobiographical and this is a memoir in verse.

The target audience? I think the target audience would be older and not younger. These poems are COMPLEX, layered even. Sure, the words themselves may not be mature in nature, but the meanings and themes are so deep--philosophical and/or abstract in nature--that readers need as much life experience as possible to unpack the meaning. The poems are also REFLECTIVE and best read in the context of how they were written--during the grieving process. The parent-child relationship can be complex no matter the age, but the parent and adult-child relationship is more at play in this collection. It is more a journeying alongside the author as she explores relationships in the family through more adult eyes.

I do NOT under any circumstance expect all books to be written with a Christian point of view. I don't. I don't think that would be fair in general, however, I will note that this one is a patchwork--piecework--of many, many, many religions and spiritual faiths, none of which are particularly Christian. So you have a very reflective, philosophical, abstract book of poetry without a christian world view. This is neither good nor bad--it just is. Again, I do not expect all books to be Christian.

Quotes

From "How Parents Ever Get Together Anyway"
The fact we exist at all
is a random grace note
of a forgotten symphony.

From "Mother Muscle"
Mother muscles become tough. They have to.
People pulling on them
all the time. Ferocious mamas
stomping through the tangled wilderness
searching for berries. Mamas worrying
night and day.

From "Sides of the Family"
These grandmas did not meet. But I think there were little lines
between them like dotted ripples in a star constellation diagram.
Big Dipper, small dipper, they both shone down on us
all our lives. They were constants.

From "Union Boulevard, St. Louis"
Life
is full of mysteries.
They're not mine, not yours.
They're life's.

From "Out"
No one is big enough to notice
all that might be noticed.
No one is small enough,
no one is big enough.

From "Every Age"
If you open the door
to happiness
what comes through?
Friends come through.
Something new comes through.

From "Every Age"
Is it possible
to be every age at once,
forever?
Some say so.

From "The Pleaser"
Why do we need someone to say
you make me happy,
you're great.
Is that a basic need
like sleeping and eating?

From "In Morning"

Each morning
we put ourselves together
Try to imagine
what we will do,
gathering tools and
thoughts.
We carry the mysteries
no one explains.

Title: Write a seven-word autobiography right now

Addicted to simplicity from very first day.
Ever hopeful, every growing always asking why.
So many places we haven't seen yet.
The space around the poem is best.

60. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Harry Potter #2) J.K. Rowling. 1998. 341 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars]

First sentence: Not for the first time, an argument had broken out over breakfast at number four, Privet Drive. Mr. Vernon Dursley had been woken in the early hours of the morning by a loud, hooting noise from his nephew Harry's room.

ETA: This is my second time to read Chamber of Secrets. I enjoyed it more the second time around. I definitely am already attached to many of the characters.

Premise/plot: Harry Potter is being held captive by his aunt and uncle. He's "forbidden" to continue his studies at Hogwarts. For better or worse, he's "rescued" via flying car driven by a Weasley sibling. [This scene where he's passing all his stuff through the window to a waiting car reminded me of a scene where someone is escaping a cult]. After a lovely time with the Weasleys, time at last to buy supplies for school and head off for Hogwarts for their second year. But...Ron and Harry miss the train. For better or worse, flying car to the "rescue." These two cause quite the disturbance on their way to school....

Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter's biggest fan???, is joining her big brother at Hogwarts.

This school year has its ups and downs. A 'monster' from a secret chamber is terrorizing students and staff. No one knows for sure who is responsible--though Hermione, Harry, and Ron have their suspicions. (But I don't think any of them guessed accurately...)

My thoughts: I enjoyed this one more than the first book. I enjoyed the mystery. I enjoyed the ghosts. I enjoyed the reveals of character's backstories. It was packed with action. It didn't seem so info-dumpy.

Monday, August 05, 2024

59. In and Out the Window

In and Out The Window. Jane Yolen. Illustrated by Cathrin Peterslund. 2024. 208 pages. [Source: Library] [Children's Poetry] [3 out of 5 stars]

First sentence: Why to Write a Poem
To sing up the sunshine,
To bargain the moon,
To follow the rainbow,
Apostrophize June,
To swing into summer,
To tumble through fall,
To stumble through grammar,
And capitalize all.

In and Out The Window is a collection of Jane Yolen's poems for children. There are over a hundred collected in this new book.

The good news: There are SO many poems, you're sure to find a few (at least) to enjoy.
The bad news: There are a LOT of poems you won't necessarily enjoy to wade through to find *your* favorites.

Is it possible for me to read a poem and absolutely crazy love-love-love it? YES. Is it possible for me to really love a collection of poems? Yes. Rare but not impossible. Is it more likely that I will like some and dislike some? YES. Poetry is SO subjective. And every single reader will likely have a different poem that is his/her favorite and best. Not every reader will enjoy/appreciate every poem. The thing with poetry is not to push it--necessarily. In other words, the right poem will find the right readers. Poetry can be surprising like that. You can *think* oh, I don't like poetry, and then find so many poems that are the exception to the rule. It is okay to not love every poem you ever read.

Hook in the Water
Each poem a hook
floating in the tide.
An invitation
to open wide.
Come, little fishes,
take the hook.
Open right up
and read my book. (page 97)

Cat Thoughts
Whoever thought that
you can outthink a cat
has never owned one. (page 54)

The Poem In Your Heart
The poem in your heart
Is beating.
The poem in your head
Is musing.
The poem in your hand
Is writing itself.
The poem in your mouth
Is sharing its beauty,
Speaking its truth
Loud enough for everyone
To hear. (page 125)

Thursday, August 01, 2024

58. Catching Fire

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) Suzanne Collins. 2009. 391 pages. [Source: Library] [5/5 Stars] [Dystopia, YA]

First sentence: I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air.

This is THE year I am rereading all the Hunger Games books. It has been over a decade since I've read the original trilogy. I do watch the movies every few years. I was SHOCKED (though I shouldn't be) how much doesn't make it into the movies. I was reminded again that the books are so much better than the movies. I think because I do enjoy the movies so much, I forget how different the experiences are from one another. Hence why I didn't reread the series for so long. But the books offer SO much more depth and substance.

Premise/plot: Peeta and Katniss should be safe now that the seventy-fourth hunger games are over. But they are far from safe since their controversial win in the arena. President Snow has MANY thoughts and opinions. His mind is made up--despite his offering Katniss an out, essentially. Katniss and Peeta's mere existence is an ongoing threat to "peace" in Panem. But he and his cohorts have a plan for the seventy-fifth game....

My thoughts: Catching Fire IS my favorite of the trilogy. I love and adore this book so much. I like the other books in the series. I do. But this one has EVERYTHING. I love, love, love, love FINNICK. I do love Peeta and Katniss. (Not such a big fan of Gale, though I'm not sure if that's legit because of the first two books or because I can never forget book three). Reading the book for the first time in such a long time--over a decade--was like reading it with fresh eyes.