The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau

This is the first book in a series that my almost 9 year old son is reading. He said it was really good and I love to have an opportunity to talk about books with him. Since it is for kids, I was able to read this pretty quickly - I finished it yesterday. What a wonderful book! The metaphors were laying around like a really easy Easter Egg hunt, but there was enough adventure and action to hold my son's attention. The writing is simple and so is the story. The protaganists are two 12 year old children, Doon and Lina. They are the "good guys" but they can see how easy it is to succumb to the temptation of greed and anger. I really liked that they examined those choices realistically. There is evidence of beauty in frugality and hope in darkness. There is the absolute thrill of discovery and a really cool boat ride. My son is in the middle of the second book and it is easy to see how I named this blog - can I read that after you Joey?

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter - Carson McCullers

I am a bit further now. I think all the characters are present now. The character of Mick, the young girl, is becomming more defined. Last night I read about her throwing a party in hopes of making some new friends and belonging to a particular group. It started out with stinging anticipation for such a grown up event, then by the end of the party, she had reverted to kid like ways. After the party, she sits outside a neighbor's house listening to their radio and catches a piece by Beethoven. She is so moved by music that she needs to inflict pain on herself just to come back down to her life. She is affected in the part of her soul that is more woman than child. I wonder how Mick will change in this novel. Will we see this passage, or are we just mean to witness this in-between-ness.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

This one will have to go a bit slower - it's rich and there is a lot I could miss if I go too fast. Each chapter is about a new character - I am not sure if they will join up at some point. The images of Mick, the child in the 3rd or 4th chapter were so compelling. Everything seemed so reckless and dangerous. She was babysitting an infant, but standing on the roof of an unfinished house looking down on the world - I felt like I was her - tethered between the two places. Baby crying on the ground and the whole sky above and grave danger between. I can still feel dizzy thinking about it. She was reluctant to leave the place, but knew she had to. There is something raw about that place between child and adult.

First Post

this is my new blog. I am going to keep track of everything I read and everything I think about it.