Joan Kessler
A lovely and beautifully woven story of growth, truth, fear, and understanding. I really liked the narrative structure, with the characters spending so much time dancing around each other until finally realizing they could be partners. Mills touches gently but deeply on the heart, saying it's okay to feel, and share, all the stories inside you.
I loved the premise, and the historical cityscape is grounding for the reader. There was some nice character work and world building.
I found 13 Nancy Drew books at my local library's book sale. It's fun to revisit these stories. I used to think that Nancy was perfect, but on this reread, I was surprised at the pleasure she took in knocking the Tophams off their pedestal. And of course in the series she trespasses and breaks into places. For a well brought-up girl who is generally polite and kind, she shows her flaws, anchored in her desire for justice. Of course, this series isn't about character arc. It's all about solving mysteries with an amateur detective, and in that light, Nancy is clever, daring, and diligent. She's a wonderful role model for young readers. While the writing may be dated, it was still a fun read.
I've always loved the movie, so I looked forward to this read very much. And much like the wind that carries Mary Poppins to her destinations, I was whisked away into the story at the opening lines. The narrative voice of P.L. Travers is cosy and knowledgeable, promising a strange and delightful story about the goings-on at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, “for this book is all about that particular house.” The differences caught me off guard at first, and I missed certain movie storylines and characterizations. Mary Poppins is far more stern and snappish in the book, and Bert plays a smaller role. The story format was a surprise as well. Similar to R. Kipling's The Jungle Book, it's more a collection of stories, with some chapters focused on other characters. Still, it's pure magic.
Travers explores the blurry line between reality and fantasy, with all the nonsense, fears, and delights therein. There are times when the story hints of danger, but when Mary Poppins is around, things aren't always as they appear. “There was something strange and extraordinary about her — something that was frightening and at the same time most exciting.” There are some truly lovely moments in the book, even a dash of the metaphysical. And why not? After all, here is woman who travels by wind, whose carpet bag is bigger on the inside, who speaks Baby, and who is distantly related to a snake (a symbol of wisdom and renewal). Tell me she's not a Time Lord.
“Gripping his pencil made Jack feel stronger.”
Connected with that statement immediately!
Fun adventure story.
It's got all the feels, ticks all the boxes, and does it with wit, style, and efficiency. Brilliant.
I loved the idea of this story; time-traveling with a talking cat. It has so much potential. It was a bit like the Sherman and Mr Peabody cartoons in that it was a fun jaunt through history but it had no particular narrative thread. It would have been great if there had been something that tied all the stories together so that it was more of a quest rather than a random sight-seeing tour.
I may have been little, but I thought it was amazing what one could do with a crayon. Brilliant!
Impossible to read this without hearing Kate's voice in your head. I don't always like the way she speaks, but she is true to herself, and I admire that. This is a favorite film of mine, and I enjoyed making the journey by book as well. There are plenty of full-page photographs in this single-chapter telling of a memorable adventure.
Hudson's book not only sufficiently maps out the Heroine's Journey (aka the Virgin's Promise), it includes both the psychological underpinning of Jung's archetype theory as well as a comparison to the Hero's Journey, making it a complete guide. She uses plenty of film examples, and includes a section on story structure as well. But the title is awkward (I prefer The Heroine's Journey) and some of the beat titles lack the clarity of the Hero's Journey beat names. A recommended resource guide for writers.
Story or Die: How to Use Brain Science to Engage, Persuade, and Change Minds in Business and in Life
An engaging read that gets to the heart of story with plenty of examples for reference. I love the takeaways pages for quick refreshers as well as the assignment pages that give practical applications. I haven't read her other books so I didn't feel the material was repetitive, as some other readers mentioned.
The characters have a strong sense of community and connection with their environment. The story looks at environmental issues and working together. Kids will enjoy the world of the swamp. It had a slow pace for me, and took a while for the story to really get going.
I remember being so enthralled by the artwork in this book. I also loved the rhyme and rhythm of the story.
There were flashes of Anne in Rilla in this book, and I wish there had been many more. The descriptive prose is lovely, and it was interesting to read their perspectives on the War. Overall, this series was too slow-paced for me.
I enjoy Smith's quiet, gentle, thought-provoking storytelling, his descriptions and dialogue place you in the scene. But there's not much action. There was certainly opportunity to make it intriguing. In the end, it was more of an armchair travel story, or PBS series, and I enjoyed it.
A wonderful introduction to Hedy Lamarr - and science tech - for young readers. The text includes quotes from Hedy Lamarr, and Katy Wu's sumptuous illustrations are a delight. Recommended for everyone.
I really liked the opening chapters, which dealt with the story's inception and then how the film got made. But the book could have done without the one hundred or so pages devoted to speculative sequels, spoofs and cultural references.
Being a classic film fan, I really enjoyed inhabiting the world of 1937 Hollywood. I loved the appearances of real-life movie stars and the behind-the-scenes look at the studios. It was a fun read. Looking forward to the next one.
Insightful, practical, and immediately accessible. It's easy to fall victim to the non-writer's opinion of what a writer should be. Weiland effectively sweeps that opinion off the page and offers ways for the writer to allow the intuitive process to grow.
Until reading this book, my only knowledge of the Dracula story came from the films. While I still love some of the films (huge TCM fan), in them the character of Mina is usually diminished to that of a soft-boiled egg. But in his book, Stoker not only gives her intelligence, courage, and self-respect (as well as grace and beauty of mind), but also opportunities to use them. She is the hero of this story. Perhaps because Stoker's mother was a feminist, he saw no reason not to make Mina an active part of the story. It is well paced (although I could have done with less dialogue from Van Helsing), and he uses the landscape and scenery to evoke a perfectly creepy atmosphere. It makes for a compelling read.