Comments for Seldovia Public Library http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com An all-volunteer library serving the Seldovia, Alaska community since 1935 Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:02:27 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on 4/1: New at the library this week by Librarian http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/4-1-new-at-the-library-this-week/#comment-155 Librarian Thu, 02 Apr 2009 00:02:27 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=168#comment-155 <i>Hot springs / Stephen Hunter</i> This had great period detail and really carries you along with the action in a lot more subtle way than a lot of current mysteries/thrillers. Very well written text is a pleasure to read. Hot springs / Stephen Hunter
This had great period detail and really carries you along with the action in a lot more subtle way than a lot of current mysteries/thrillers. Very well written text is a pleasure to read.

]]> Comment on 4/1: New at the library this week by Librarian http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/4-1-new-at-the-library-this-week/#comment-154 Librarian Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:59:56 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=168#comment-154 <i>His Majesty’s dragon / Naomi Novik</i> Wow. I sat and read this straight through. This is a great fantasy/military/marine series for those who want more Paolini and will help open up the worlds of Horatio Hornblower and Aubrey/Maturin. It's fine for kids who aren't daunted by a fairly demanding vocabulary and it's fine for adults who might like to see dragons fighting air battles in the Napoleonic wars. Since the protagonist is already a naval captain and adult, the book can't talk down to him and since it presents the children as well-characterised participants, kids won't necessarily find it too grown up. Plus, a dragon who likes math and a good introduction to the concepts of social decorum and honor and it's a perfect lead-in to the other series. Also, did I mention fun? Can't wait to read the rest of the series...which we should have in another week or two! His Majesty’s dragon / Naomi Novik

Wow. I sat and read this straight through. This is a great fantasy/military/marine series for those who want more Paolini and will help open up the worlds of Horatio Hornblower and Aubrey/Maturin. It’s fine for kids who aren’t daunted by a fairly demanding vocabulary and it’s fine for adults who might like to see dragons fighting air battles in the Napoleonic wars. Since the protagonist is already a naval captain and adult, the book can’t talk down to him and since it presents the children as well-characterised participants, kids won’t necessarily find it too grown up. Plus, a dragon who likes math and a good introduction to the concepts of social decorum and honor and it’s a perfect lead-in to the other series. Also, did I mention fun? Can’t wait to read the rest of the series…which we should have in another week or two!

]]> Comment on 5/29: New at the library this week by Savannah http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/5-29-new/#comment-90 Savannah Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:14:48 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-90 <cite>City of ashes</cite> / Cassandra Clare It was obvious as soon as I picked this up that I didn't want to try to let details I didn't remember from the previous novel in this series, <cite>City of Bones</cite>, slide. So I backtracked and reread the first book, then this one. It's simply great. Although it's a teen book and just right so far as portraying hip kids, it also does the adults with a deft touch and the adventures are just beautifully wrought urban fantasy. In a way, this one feels a bit less complete than the first one, but I think that's just because there have already been seeming plot reversals and you can just feel the next one coming as the relationships continue to shift and realign. City of ashes / Cassandra Clare
It was obvious as soon as I picked this up that I didn’t want to try to let details I didn’t remember from the previous novel in this series, City of Bones, slide. So I backtracked and reread the first book, then this one. It’s simply great. Although it’s a teen book and just right so far as portraying hip kids, it also does the adults with a deft touch and the adventures are just beautifully wrought urban fantasy. In a way, this one feels a bit less complete than the first one, but I think that’s just because there have already been seeming plot reversals and you can just feel the next one coming as the relationships continue to shift and realign.

]]> Comment on 6/26: New at the library this week by Savannah http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/6-26-new/#comment-89 Savannah Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:12:44 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-89 <cite>The host</cite> / Stephenie Meyer A little stronger than <cite>Twilight</cite>, I think, but still with the impetuously, repeatedly stupid protagonist (an established bodice ripper convention, I realize). Also, editing down a hundred or two pages would have tightened up a lot of unnecessary, tiresome discourse. I like long books, but not when they have such a padded-out feel. The ending is easy to guess so there's not much plot tension, but then, this isn't a high-stakes scifi adventure; it's a romance for dabblers over the edge of weird. As such, it's pretty nice chicklit with just a smidge of post-apocalypse. This one is nominally rated adult, but there's nothing that would put off an older teen reader other than that the characters are adults. While there's sexual tension, there's nothing graphic. The host / Stephenie Meyer
A little stronger than Twilight, I think, but still with the impetuously, repeatedly stupid protagonist (an established bodice ripper convention, I realize). Also, editing down a hundred or two pages would have tightened up a lot of unnecessary, tiresome discourse. I like long books, but not when they have such a padded-out feel. The ending is easy to guess so there’s not much plot tension, but then, this isn’t a high-stakes scifi adventure; it’s a romance for dabblers over the edge of weird. As such, it’s pretty nice chicklit with just a smidge of post-apocalypse. This one is nominally rated adult, but there’s nothing that would put off an older teen reader other than that the characters are adults. While there’s sexual tension, there’s nothing graphic.

]]> Comment on 6/26: New at the library this week by Savannah http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/6-26-new/#comment-88 Savannah Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:09:04 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=59#comment-88 <cite>Twilight</cite> / Stephenie Meyer Aside from giving me some frustration over how recklessly stupid the protagonist is, this was a pretty entertaining book. Characterization was solid, place was detailed, and there was enough action to keep the pages turning despite a slight overabundance of first-person agonizing. I am not really into the whole vampire thing, but it's more in the line of a different culture/physical look than it really is the evil/scary/goth idea of vampires. In other words, part of the post-Angel vampire romantic. The book is rated YA, but it's perfectly readable by adults if they're not put off by the relative immaturity of the protagonist. Twilight / Stephenie Meyer
Aside from giving me some frustration over how recklessly stupid the protagonist is, this was a pretty entertaining book. Characterization was solid, place was detailed, and there was enough action to keep the pages turning despite a slight overabundance of first-person agonizing. I am not really into the whole vampire thing, but it’s more in the line of a different culture/physical look than it really is the evil/scary/goth idea of vampires. In other words, part of the post-Angel vampire romantic. The book is rated YA, but it’s perfectly readable by adults if they’re not put off by the relative immaturity of the protagonist.

]]> Comment on 5/29: New at the library this week by Savannah http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/05/29/5-29-new/#comment-83 Savannah Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:08:09 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=56#comment-83 <cite>The death of Jayson Porter</cite> / Jaime Adoff When a book begins with the suicide of its 16-year-old protagonist, you know it's gonna be powerful. And it is. Son of an abusive white alcoholic prostitute and a black drug addict, he didn't ever have a whole lot easy in store for him. In fact, that railing and the fatal drop on the other side were the sweet reward that kept him going a lot of days. Written in a spare, profane, witty, absolutely spot-on kidspeak prose, this book dumps you into his head...and his troubles, touching along the way on why when you're bigger than her do you still let your mom beat the daylights out of you and why you have to leave when she starts getting it on with her pathetic boyfriend while you're still in the room. There's nothing in this book that doesn't ring true, and a lot that is tragically sad. Wonderfully wrought, but clearly not for the younger or protected-from-harsh-life reader. The death of Jayson Porter / Jaime Adoff
When a book begins with the suicide of its 16-year-old protagonist, you know it’s gonna be powerful. And it is. Son of an abusive white alcoholic prostitute and a black drug addict, he didn’t ever have a whole lot easy in store for him. In fact, that railing and the fatal drop on the other side were the sweet reward that kept him going a lot of days. Written in a spare, profane, witty, absolutely spot-on kidspeak prose, this book dumps you into his head…and his troubles, touching along the way on why when you’re bigger than her do you still let your mom beat the daylights out of you and why you have to leave when she starts getting it on with her pathetic boyfriend while you’re still in the room. There’s nothing in this book that doesn’t ring true, and a lot that is tragically sad. Wonderfully wrought, but clearly not for the younger or protected-from-harsh-life reader.

]]> Comment on Contact by Jan Wyland http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/contact/#comment-63 Jan Wyland Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:05:44 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/contact/#comment-63 Savannah, This is an excellent web page. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your constructing it. It looks fantastic!! Savannah,

This is an excellent web page. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your constructing it. It looks fantastic!!

]]> Comment on 2008-09 Battle of the Books by Librarian http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/03/24/battle-09/#comment-62 Librarian Sat, 29 Mar 2008 23:12:06 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=48#comment-62 Here's what we have right now from the tentative 08-09 title list: Akimbo and the Lions Tale of Despereaux Mystery on the Alaska Iditarod Trail Snow Treasure The BFG Breadwinner Stormbreaker (graphic version only) Touching Spirit Bear Giver Cry the Beloved Country We'll post an update if we add any more of the titles. These will be pulled to a special display about when school gets out, so they'll be easy to find for getting a head start during the summer. Here’s what we have right now from the tentative 08-09 title list:
Akimbo and the Lions
Tale of Despereaux
Mystery on the Alaska Iditarod Trail
Snow Treasure
The BFG
Breadwinner
Stormbreaker (graphic version only)
Touching Spirit Bear
Giver
Cry the Beloved Country

We’ll post an update if we add any more of the titles. These will be pulled to a special display about when school gets out, so they’ll be easy to find for getting a head start during the summer.

]]> Comment on 2/16: New at the library this week by Jacalineld http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/216-new-at-the-library-this-week/#comment-56 Jacalineld Thu, 27 Mar 2008 05:50:29 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=34#comment-56 well done, man well done, man

]]> Comment on 3/4: New at the library this week by Savannah http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/2008/03/04/34-new-at-the-library-this-week/#comment-54 Savannah Mon, 24 Mar 2008 20:13:04 +0000 http://seldovialibrary.wordpress.com/?p=38#comment-54 While I'm no particular fan of chicklit, <cite>Austenland</cite> shouldn't be passed over as nothing but a frothy romance (although it's certainly got that going, too, as the protagonist struggles to come to peace with her long list of failed loves). This is also for literary fans of Austen, who will enjoy how the threads of the protagonist's fantasy life in the Austen theme park play out against her very real life and relationships. Overall, a light but satisfying read. While I’m no particular fan of chicklit, Austenland shouldn’t be passed over as nothing but a frothy romance (although it’s certainly got that going, too, as the protagonist struggles to come to peace with her long list of failed loves). This is also for literary fans of Austen, who will enjoy how the threads of the protagonist’s fantasy life in the Austen theme park play out against her very real life and relationships. Overall, a light but satisfying read.

]]>