Once Upon a Bookshelf

In the past week, I have spent way too much money on books. In my excessive book buying, I happened across Lane Smith’s book John, Paul, George & Ben. I think this may actually be on of the best story books I’ve stumbled upon in a long time.

Lane Smith is also one of the guys who brought us The Stinky Cheese Man, so I mean, you know this is going to be good by default. The story is adorable, all about John Hancock, Paul Revere, George Washington, Ben Franklin and Tom Jefferson and certain personality traits they have, but honestly, the best part about the book are the illustrations and the typography. Absolutely gorgeous!

Ack, I think I may spend the next few days just drooling over the graphic design in this book.

This is one of those books where, after finishing it, I did absolutely nothing but just SIT there with a warm and fuzzy feeling in my stomach, a smile on my face and the occasional happy sigh escaping - which is entirely not good at 2 in the morning.

Wives and Daughters was the book Elizabeth Gaskell was in the middle of writing when she passed away. It takes place in Hollingford, a country town in England in the 19th century. Molly Gibson is the county doctor’s daughter. Things get rolling when one of Mr. Gibson’s apprentices falls in love with Molly - she’s sent away for a while to visit the Hamleys, and Mr. Gibson decides that it’s in both his and his daughter’s best interest for him to get married again. Along with a new mother for Molly comes a step-sister, Cynthia, who at times I want to strangle, and at other times absolutely adore.

This is such a sweet and touching book. But, ah I so wish it had been finished! Even though there is a little blurb at the end of the book saying how Gaskell was planning on finishing the book, I don’t feel like I have closure, whereas I get that when I watch the miniseries. I want to read about Roger and Molly after Roger comes back from Africa! Alas! Plus, I’m coming to believe that the best thing about watching a miniseries before reading the book is the fact that I don’t get angry at certain characters when it looks like they’re going to get in the way of the certain happy ending that I want to happen. And that really makes me enjoy the book more. (I definitely get way too emotionally involved with characters in books.)

On a side note, Roger Hamley has entered the same category as Col. Brandon, Mr. Darcy and Kenneth Ford in my mind - he’ll be one of those men that I will love with undying affection, and so on and so forth. So charming is he.

Avalon High is yet another one of Meg Cabot’s books. (Man, that woman spits out books so fast that can never remember what her newest release is.) Ellie, our main character, has two parents who are Professors and are both obsessed with all things related to Arthurian legend - so much so that they even named their daughter after the Lady of Shalott. Her parents go on sabbatical for a year, moving the family to DC, and transfering Ellie to Avalon High. It should come as no surprise that the Arthurian legend seems to be coming to life.

I’ve grown extremely wary towards books having anything to do with King Arthur and his court. I’m one of those people who think Lancelot is a total ninny, and am rather appalled by the fact that people think the relationship between Lance and Gwen is romantic. I love Arthur, and I hate that people don’t seem to care the Gwen is his wife and Lancelot is his best friend. As many people, books, movies and such seem to be all for Lance and Gwen these days, I tend to steer clear. Which is what I had every intention of doing with this book here, until I read a review that said “Lance was kind of a doof.” Those few words in themselves were enough to make me go out and get this book.

This book reminded me why I had loved Cabot so much a few years ago, and rather makes me wonder why I got out of reading everything that she would publish. It was sweet - very sweet - and witty, cute… did I mention sweet? There’s something about how she puts JUST the right amount of romance in her books. This is going to be one of those books that I pull out just to read certain passages over again.

It was six months ago when I was used-bookstore-ing with Shannon, and she told me that I needed to get my hands on this book as I had never read it before. So, it’s been sitting on my shelf and waiting for me for the past six months, and I’ve finally gotten around to reading it.

I think everyone knows the story - Dorthoy gets whisked away to the land of Oz by a tornado, and goes on a journey (or her hero quest) to get back to Kansas. Along the way she meets the Scarcrow, the Tinman (or, in the book, the Tin Woodman) and the Cowardly Lion, and has to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West in order for the Great and Powerful Oz to send her back home. Well, the movie was based on the book by L. Frank Baum.

I had been hoping for something a little more charming. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled with Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia and Barrie’s Peter Pan, but the narrative in this book was very flat. I like books that I can grow to really love the characters - I couldn’t feel that with Dorothy at all.

Plus, you don’t even meet the Wicked Witch of the West until after Dorothy and co. first talk to Oz; then she’s only in it for one chapter. That was a huge disappointment to me, as I have a tendency to always like the “bad guys” best. They make things so much more interesting.

I suppose if I had read this book as a child, I would have loved it. But now, it was just so … boring.