Daily Book Talk

The Once and Future King by T.H. White

A staple of Arthurian legend.  This was the deepest look into Camelot and the time before the explosion of literature that came out with Marion Zimmer Bradley and all the others in the 1990s.  I am sure that all of the more recent authors went through White's work for information on the age.  It is a little drier than some of the more romanticized recent stuff.  It is probably for a slightly older audience than Gerald Morris's and Vivian van Velde's.

Daily Book Talk

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke

Wonderful book, I thoroughly enjoyed running around Venice, having been there a long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. It is a modern day Robin Hood.  Slightly disappointed when the thief turned out to be just a boy who was rich and was basically stealing from himself and his friends.  Though Funke did create the Robin Hood illusion for this character that lasted through most of the book; we didn't know that the thief was just a rich man's son until very near the end.  The magic at the end with the merry go round was very cool.  I wish she would write this again.  I think she jumped back and forth between the realm of magic and the real world, but I would have liked for her to create an inbetween place that is neither only real nor only fantasy.

Daily Book Talk

Foundling by D.M. Cornish

Robert Jordan's recommendation and the cover got me a little more excited than I should of. Cornish creates an interesting world and I'm sure if I read more it will become deeper with each stroke he paints and strand he weaves. Comparing to Tolkien went a little far though. Neat monsters and the monster hunters seem to have cool capabilities.  Didn't fall in love with the protagonist.  He is your typical picked on orphan who just needs a chance to prove himself.  The first book was released in parts, so Foundling seemed to end midstream.  Very good.

Daily Book Talk

Peak by Roland Smith

Loved it! Talk about a great message, 'Going to the top isn't everything'. I wish he would have put the flag where he did and then climbed to the top. This might have played on the personal success versus success in the eyes of our peers idea. It would have really brought home doing things that you value no matter what everyone else thinks. I still think the idea of not having to accomplish things is huge, but that message is easily converted to being completely unproductive. Smith's novel asks us what we should value.  What is important to us as people? Have we lost site of what really matters? Pro athletes, some of them idols of thousands/millions, are making very questionable life decisions and we let them do this and continue on because the Sunday afternoon television of whatever event it is is more important than teaching our children how to live.  Why do we have to go to the top? Why are there phrases like, 'winning isn't everything, it's the only thing'? Why doesn't participation count? Why do we have to be the best?

Daily Book Talk

Westmark by Lloyd Alexander

Alexander was the first author I fell in love with. The Book of Three was the first book that I liked. So, naturally anything he writes intrigues me. I have read all of his and most of the time I will only read one by any author.  He introduced me to daring rebels willing to take on the establishment, colorful dwarves that can become invisible, peaceful valleys untouched by war, and all the other 'first' big ideas that I had.

Daily Book Talk

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

This is one of my all time favorites. I remember a teacher reading this to us in early elementary school. It certainly changed the way I looked at the world.  Were there magical wells everywhere or just in Babbit's world?  Probably the book that made me realize I wanted magical wells with 'Fountain of Youth' powers in my world as well.  Thank you Natalie Babbit for pushing me with such tender thoughts.