Tuesday, May 27, 2008

The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton

Gabriel Syme, recently made a philosopher-policeman, finds himself at a meeting for a group of anarchists headed by the enigmatic Sunday. He is unexpectedly made Thursday, and is involved in a plot to bomb the Czar and the President of the French Republic. However, before he was taken to the meeting, he was made to swear that he would not reveal the group to the police, and when he attempts to frustrate the plot himself the story grows increasingly fantastic.

Chesterton said, "You've got that eternal idiotic idea that if anarchy came if would come from the poor. Why should it? The poor have been rebels, but they have never been anarchists; they have more interest than anyone else in there being some decent government. The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich object have always objected to being governed at all."
In this story the opposition comes from the seemingly innocent and stupid; and the friends are those who seem to be anarchists. Syme's world is continually turned upside down.

Friday, May 23, 2008

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson

The evil Fangs of Dang are looking for the Jewels of Anniera that were lost when Anniera fell. Their leader, the ruthless Gnag the Nameless, is desperate to find them, and he seems to think that the small Igiby family has them. Janner, Tink, and Leeli, and their dog Nugget are plunged into a series of adventures with the Fangs, Peet the Sock Man, and toothy cows that will change them forever.

Andrew Peterson has a knack for coupling scary things with funny ones. Who wouldn't smile at the paradox of Gnag the Nameless, even though he sends the Black Carriage that carries people to their inevitable doom? Isn't the idea of toothy cows funny, even though their fangs enable them to eat people? These pairings keep the book from becoming a horror story, yet they're not over the top. It's still serious. Peterson has written a very good book that walks a thin line between scary and comedy.
Peterson also has a really good CD out called Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

When Anne Shirley comes to them by mistake, Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables in Avonlea are hesitant to keep her. However, Anne soon charms everyone she meets with her imagination, vocabulary, and enjoyment of everything. Despite tragedy and misunderstandings, Anne grows from a dreamy girl into a beautiful, loving woman.

Hooray! I've read it, and liked it much better than the Children's Abridged version. I might have said this in my last post, but Anne reminds me a lot of myself. I think we'd be kindred spirits, and it's much more fun to read a book if you could be reading about yourself. Though Anne's grudge toward Gilbert seems contrary to the rest of the book. She's very forgiving the rest of the time.
Some classics are only 'classics' because they're old and written by people who wrote other old and likewise boring stuff. Anne of Green Gables is neither old nor boring. In other words, Read this book!

Indeed, Krammy- cnict is kkkk-nickt, with an almost nonexistant T.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson

My grandmother gave me this book when she was here last weekend. Upon looking at it, I realized that I had never read the real Green Gables. I read this book and plan to read the others soon.

Before Green Gables: When Anne Shirley's parents die within a week of each other from consumption, Anne is sent to foster home after foster home, eventually ending up in an orphanage. What keeps her going is her imagination: friends like Violetta and Katie Maurice, words such as exquisite and absolutely, and her unfailing belief that one day some one will love her.

Very good. As a person with red hair and freckles, I had fun reading about Anne, but I can't imagine having such a life. It says something about you, that your imagination and love survived during hard times with everyone hating you. I wish I were like that.

School's out!
Already I don't know what to do: there's just so much time.

...I just think of these things, and then I don't feel so bad!

  • Barnes and Noble (and books in general)
  • birthday parties
  • friends
  • fun words (like effervescent and uber)
  • knitting
  • learning languages
  • RUF
  • Scrabble...and other word games
  • skiing
  • sleep-overs
  • swimming
  • tea
  • traveling (not the car part, so much!)
  • weddings
  • writing fantasy stories