Why Shoot the Teacher

Why Shoot the Teacher ~ Max Braithwaite; Started and finished December 21, 2009



My youngest has taken a liking to carrying this particular book around (along with one other, I think it has to do with the nice bright colours of their covers, this one is green and the other red)(Shakespeare for Young Actors if you were wondering what the other was, lol) so I thought it might be a good idea to get it read before something unfortunate happens to it. I have been meaning to read it for a long time now, so, of course, something bad WOULD happen to it eventually.

Started it this morning, finished it in time to make supper (with a few breaks here and there to get other things around the house done) which is good since I'm also currently reading the first book in the Lord of the Rings.

I enjoyed the book. I know I've seen the movie, once, too many years ago to remember anything beyond the fact that I've seen the movie, lol, so really didn't know too much about the story other than knowing it's a bout a teacher in a rural school. No idea it was in Sask. That was pretty cool in my books, as well as Knowing the places that were named, and having actually Been to some of them.

And I enjoyed the story. When he talks about being lonely... I have been there, done that. Maybe not the extreme that he had to endure, but yeah. I also found the perspective of the time interesting as well. I do enjoy reading books.. that are like that, that give a glimpse into how things used to be and such, and that it's Canadian history I enjoy it even more.

I have known a war bride, although she from the second WW, so Alice Field's story had interest for me as well.. her perspective. I've heard some stories from the one I know personally, so it was interesting to see a few of the similarities.

The part about the gophers amused me. Something that still goes on even nowadays, and the fact that they're actually Richardson Ground squirrels... the number of times I have heard people say that... lol.

His perspective on hockey is one I've never heard before, not even close. I liked it. Almost made me want to be a more avid fan, lol, and considering my almost complete lack of interest in sports of any sort, that's saying something, lol.

It was a good book, even though it was short, so much of it I recognized, from having lived here in Sask myself, which just added to it in my opinion. It is one I'll likely read again (if it survives Xander's affections, lol)

ArchEnemy

ArchEnemy ~ Frank Beddor; Started December 11th, 2009; Completed December 12th, 2009



Just finished this one. In it the story picks up shortly where Seeing Redd left off, imagination having been disabled everywhere. In this book the three main forces, Alyss, Redd and Arch, are all struggling to be in possession of not only the heart crystal, but Wonderland.

There's a lot more going on with the catapillars in this book as well, though we still don't learn too much about them, but considering the characters in question, I suppose that fits.

After the first bit Redd is not as prominent either. The story is more involved with Arch, Alyss, and to some extent Molly.

I'll admit, I was happy when Ripkin and Blister were killed. Not often do I REALLY look forward to a villain's death, but something about them, I just really had no use for, and was glad to see them go already. (Sorry, did I spoil it for some by telling of their demise? Ah well, you really Should have seen it coming...)(their death that is)

Things move along alright in this book, as with the previous two, I enjoyed it, it was a quick/light read, but not so light as to be easily forgotten and never looked upon again. Chances are good I may in the future pick this set up to read again.

Is good mindless entertainment. That sounds like an insult, but it's not.

Seeing Redd

Seeing Redd ~ Frank Beddor; Started December 9th, 2009; Completed December 10th, 2009



Seeing Redd, the second book in the Looking Glass Wars trilogy. Alyss is Queen, but there are problems, attacks are made, that are done to look as if Redd has returned to Wonderland, and then she does.

I was frustrated by this one because it delves a bit more into the Redd character, but only a bit... like window shopping almost.. you get to see all those cool things you want, but you don't actually get to take them home. The glimpses of Redd's deeper inner character were just touches here and there on this or that point, but not enough to make you satisfied that you really Get it. In one part it tells about her killing her mother, and how she never again used that particular method to kill anyone. But it doesn't go into WHY. Maybe I was just missing something but.. I wanted More.

It was a good book though, I think I got more involved with the story than I did in the first. In it we learn more about a character who was only briefly mentioned here and there in the first book, Arch, king of the Borderlands. Who has absolutely no use for women being in power in any way, shape, or form. He has two body guards whom I keep looking forward to the deaths of. (they've got to be killed off eventually... right??!!??!!)

We also see more with Hatter Madigan. Overall there is a lot more character development in this book than the last, although some are done better than others, for the most part they're the same as with Redd... quick dips in.

It's almost like, after some reflection.. it's more about what's happening then about the people. Which is alright, but I like to know the people too.

Another light read, which has it fitting in well with the first. Overall, I like.

The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars ~ Frank Beddor; Started December 7th, 2009; Completed December 8th, 2009



This trilogy was recommended to my by a good friend. And since I trust said friend's tastes, I went and found the entire set on ebay and bought them without knowing much more than what little I read on wiki about em, and my friends recommendation, lol.

The first book I started one day and completed the next (if not for having to get up early the next morning I likely would have stayed up and finished that same night) And I think it's safe to say I liked it, lol.

The book is a twist on the Alice in Wonderland story. If nothing else, I enjoy a good twist, lol. Which has me thinking of the books by Gail Carson Levine, (Fairest, etc).

It's a good twist, and although not a big fan of Alice in Wonderland, I DID enjoy this book. The book follows Alyss as her parents are murdered by her aunt, and she ends up exiled from Wonderland to Earth for 13 yrs, when she's finally found by her mother's bodyguard and returned to Wonderland to try and reclaim her throne.

It's not an overly DEEP book in my opinion.. there is so much going on and the story moves along at such a pace that the reader doesn't really get Overly involved with the characters. I'm finding that it's not until... about halfway through the second book or so that I feel really involved with the characters. And even then.. Not saying this is a bad thing, just.. yeah. Just an aspect I have found with it. I find myself reading not because I feel for the characters, and want to see them victorious/crushed, but more because I just want to see what happens.

I found the start of the book quite violent.. descriptively violent, but as I've progressed through, it tamed down quite a bit. There's still violence, but the way it's written is with less description, so I didn't find myself wincing all the time like at the start.

I'm not sure what else I could really say about this one, it was, really, a light read, but an enjoyable one overall.

Watership Down

Watership Down ~ Richard Adams; Started November 17th, 2009; Completed December 4th, 2009



I started reading this book because most of everything else was packed, and I was on a reading spree. This book is good and thick so I figured it would take me awhile to get through, at least until I'd have the joys of unpacking to occupy my. It took longer than I had anticipated, due mostly to the fact that I really need to get glasses, but I did eventually finish, lol.

I had seen the movie when I was a kid (and can't believe my parents would let us watch such a movie at that age...) and so I already kinda knew what was going to happen, although I could only vaguely remember pieces from the movie. I didn't expect to like that book more than a bit. It was, after all, just a way to fill up empty hours waiting to move, plus the fact that I own it, should probably be able to say I've read it.

It was Much better than I expected. I could even say I enjoyed it. You do get kind of involved with the story and characters, but not as much as I have with other characters in other books. But that may be because the characters are rabbits.. who knows, lol. I thought Keehar was amusing, lol. "Pig Vig" lol

When I reached the end of the book, and mentally went back to the beginning, through all that the rabbits went through, and it really felt like kind of a journey... I'm not sure I can explain it rightly.. but it was like a long journey, and you could mentally see all they went through, and how they had changed and grown from where they were at the start of the book.

I read online various reviews of the book, that go on about the anti-feminist quality to the book.

Blah Blah Blah.

I'm sorry, but in my opinion it's Just a story about a group of rabbits trying to survive. The fact that it's a group of male rabbits, and does are looked upon, for the most part, as nothing more, really, than baby bearers and warren diggers... I can see how that would offend some overly touchy people, but it IS just a story folks, chillax. The females Do get given roles that are More than this, in the story. Hyzenthlay for example. There IS more to them, but they are, in my opinion, just peripheral characters to the story. The main focus is the original group of rabbits.

The need for females in order to keep their warren alive is a major part of the story in my opinion. it's what everything builds too, all the smaller struggles they had, escaping from their original warren, and then from the Warren of the Shining Wire, they were just... they get you attatched to the characters, get you involved with them, so you want them to succeed against the Efrafan rabbits too. Not sitting there, thinking, oh ho hum, lets get on with this already.

I sort of liked the weaving in of the folk tales about El-ahrairah... the timing for them made me annoyed at times.. when they're in the midst of some sort of action, I don't want to jump tracks to something else, but after about halfway through the book I did try to look after the story to see where the El-ahrairah story would be somewhat incorporated into the Actual sotry.

Overall I guess it was a good book, and if you're up for it, definately give it a read. Not sure if I'll ever read it again, but you never know. It's not one I'll AVOID reading, but not something light you can just decide to pick up and breeze through either.

And as far as the movie goes (which I did find and watch again after I read the book)..... best avoided. But if you feel you must, well.. I don't know.. if you watch Before you read you'll kind of know what to expect (but in a way not, because the movie is almost totally messed up compared to the book.. but isn't that usually the case sadly? Especially with older ones..) and that could take some of the suspense out of the book.. but then again, if you watch it after, if you're like me, all you'll be able to think of is where it's WRONG, lol. they only skim through stuff, you don't get as involved with the characters.. just watching the movie alone, you'd be wondering Why they listen to Hazel at all, since it's Obviously Bigwig doing everything and being everything. There is SO much cut out.. so much altered... is best to just not watch at all, lol.

Ah well.

That's my opinion.