The Mysterious Benedict Society [11] May 3, 2009

I recently read The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. What a pleasure it was to read this book. All the characters were utterly memorable, colorful, and well written. A group of children are assembled, after passing some less than straightforward tests, and given the mission of saving the world. They all have different strengths and weaknesses, but all together they make the perfect team. The children are all orphans (in a way) and loneliness and the importance of family are themes that run throughout the book. It may be written for children and young adults, but I think most people would enjoy a weekend spent reading this book. The story was fun, the puzzles intriguing, and the ending….happy of course . There is a sequel out, but I will wait until it is in paperback to read it. 4.5/5

James and the Giant Peach [1] January 3, 2009

For my first book of 2009 I chose a book I had not read in ohhhh…. eighteen some odd years, James and the Giant Peach. Back in primary school one of my teachers read it to the class (Mrs. Maxwell or Miss Fazer I believe) and I loved it. I read it a few times after that, but over the years I had all but forgotten about it. All I could remember were giant insects, a flying peach, and the terrible aunts that met their timely end.

It came back into my mind as I was thinking about stop-animation films, and remembered that the book was made into a movie a while back. I tracked down a copy at one of the English bookstores in town and saved it for January 1st. I had forgotten so much and thoroughly enjoyed reading it again! I had forgotten about the Cloud Men, about how terrible the aunts really were, and about the wonderful rhyming songs Centipede sang. Perhaps I will make a point of reading one favorite childhood book a month. Next month I will reserve for The Little Prince.

Onto the next books this month, Simple Genius by David Baldacci and New Europe by Michael Palin.