I went ahead and read The Icy Hand, the second book in the Something Wickedly Weird series, even though I wasn’t all that impressed with the first.
Cover via Amazon
Even more wicked and weird than the first! Stanley is looking forward to a relaxing winter. After all, nothing could have been weirder than the werewolf curse and plotting pirates he had to face the summer before! Or at least that’s what Stanley thinks; but he has a lot to learn about Cramdon Rock, especially after accidentally bringing some dead pirates back to life—ones that make the previous pirates he faced look like cuddly puppy dogs and ones that are trudging across the arctic determined to fi nd a magical medallion in Stanley’s house. The only person who can save him is his dead great-uncle Bartholomew, which is a little tricky considering he’s…well, dead. Oh, and did we mention headless? With the help of a talking stuffed fish and a new friend named Daisy, Stanley sets out to find his great-uncle’s head, stop the pirates, and win over some new readers in this second funny and spooky installment of a thrilling new series.
In the end, however, I had the same reaction.
While there are some creative aspects, and the illustrations add to the fun, the series (or at least the first two books) just seems too simple and kind of flat. The best fantasy books, even or perhaps especially those for younger readers, give you a sense of depth and mystery; the feeling that there is more to the world you are exploring than is on the pages.
In these two books, however, the plot just moves forward somehow both nonchalantly and yet fast paced. Neither the setting nor the characters really develop depth or mystery. The lead character in particular is not all that compelling and I had a hard time rooting for him.
So no more Something Wickedly Weird books for me. They just didn’t work for me. (Again with the caveat that this is a chapter book for early elementary readers so perhaps my expectations are off.)
I picked the first two books of the Something Wickedly Weird series at a library sale for a dollar apiece some time back. I enjoy illustrated chapter books and figured they would be handy to have around for the kids. My wife recently pulled them off the shelf and was planning on reading them just to see what they were about. Needing a quick and light read while fighting a cold I decided to check them out as well.
Something Wickedly Weird is most definitely here! Crampton Rock seems like a lovely seaside town…at least until dark. When eleven-year-old Stanley Buggles inherits a house from a mysterious uncle he didn’t know he had, he also inherits a mystery and some strange and sinister new neighbors. The questions begin to pile up: Why are all the dogs in town three-legged? Why is no one on the streets after dark? Is it true that the man who runs the candy shop is a werewolf? And why do those shoemakers look an awful lot like pirates? With the help of Mrs. Carelli, a housekeeper, and a talking stuffed fish, Stanley begins to unravel the mysteries that haunt his great-uncle’s death and have set their sights on him. A thrilling, spooky, and funny read, and the first installment of a kid-pleasing new series.
This series seemed like such a good fit: engagingly illustrated chapter books with quirky setting… but this book left me cold.
Perhaps, this is where my inability to fairly judge books for younger readers comes into play. The Wooden Mile seemed a little too simplistic and easy to me. There are creative elements and fun characters (and the illustrations) but things just seem to move a little too quickly and come together a little too easily.
Plus, the lead character Stanley seemed a little flat (Get it?). He doesn’t have much a personality and wasn’t developed enough to really a have a sense of who is and what motivates him, etc.
It is a quick and energetic read, however, and as I noted there are some clever aspects (the talking fish and the Jekyll and Hyde scenario) so perhaps I am just too old for these books. I will have my kids check them out since they are the target audience to begin with.
I picked the first two books of the Something Wickedly Weird series at a library sale for a dollar apiece some time back. I enjoy illustrated chapter books and figured they would be handy to have around for the kids. My wife recently pulled them off the shelf and was planning on reading them just to see what they were about. Needing a quick and light read while fighting a cold I decided to check them out as well.
Something Wickedly Weird is most definitely here! Crampton Rock seems like a lovely seaside town…at least until dark. When eleven-year-old Stanley Buggles inherits a house from a mysterious uncle he didn’t know he had, he also inherits a mystery and some strange and sinister new neighbors. The questions begin to pile up: Why are all the dogs in town three-legged? Why is no one on the streets after dark? Is it true that the man who runs the candy shop is a werewolf? And why do those shoemakers look an awful lot like pirates? With the help of Mrs. Carelli, a housekeeper, and a talking stuffed fish, Stanley begins to unravel the mysteries that haunt his great-uncle’s death and have set their sights on him. A thrilling, spooky, and funny read, and the first installment of a kid-pleasing new series.
This series seemed like such a good fit: engagingly illustrated chapter books with quirky setting… but this book left me cold.
Perhaps, this is where my inability to fairly judge books for younger readers comes into play. The Wooden Mile seemed a little too simplistic and easy to me. There are creative elements and fun characters (and the illustrations) but things just seem to move a little too quickly and come together a little too easily.
Plus, the lead character Stanley seemed a little flat (Get it?). He doesn’t have much a personality and wasn’t developed enough to really a have a sense of who is and what motivates him, etc.
It is a quick and energetic read, however, and as I noted there are some clever aspects (the talking fish and the Jekyll and Hyde scenario) so perhaps I am just too old for these books. I will have my kids check them out since they are the target audience to begin with.
WHAT RELEVANCE DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE IN OUR SOCIETAL SYSTEM? What place does the church have in a system that so often seems to be ordered only by the ultra-complex machinery of state power and corporate strategy? The essays in this volume address these questions by considering the relationship of the church to liberty, government, commerce, and education. These reflections reveal that we cannot allow the system to run according to its own internal logic. Rather, it is important for the church to act as a conscience. The church (and the people in it) should provide a living reminder of the God and of the good that transcends our worldly instrumentalities and principalities. The church is the soul of the system.
Given my familiarity with Hunter’s work, I was not surprised to find this a great collection of essays.
As with so much of his writing, I really liked the clarity with which Hunter writes. He tackles complex and often difficult subjects but he manages to write for the informed, but not necessarily expert, reader without dumbing things down or oversimplifying.
He explores political theory, politics, government, history, theology and sociology and reflects on what these diverse subjects might teach us about how to structure our lives, culture, and government.
He tackles secularism, libertarianism, and higher education among other topics that feature the interaction of faith and society. Even if you don’t agree with his perspective I think you will find Hunter a fair and clear guide to many of these issues and debates. Rather than amp up the outrage, he tries to bring a calm, prudent style and tone. Even amongst the controversy and strongly held opinions he seeks out common ground and a consistent sense of civility.
For those interested in higher education, and perhaps Christian higher education in particular, there are a couple of provocative essays included in this volume on those topics.
But anyone interested in issues surrounding religious liberty, secularism, or the ideas that underlie our current political debates will enjoy this collection.
WHAT RELEVANCE DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE IN OUR SOCIETAL SYSTEM? What place does the church have in a system that so often seems to be ordered only by the ultra-complex machinery of state power and corporate strategy? The essays in this volume address these questions by considering the relationship of the church to liberty, government, commerce, and education. These reflections reveal that we cannot allow the system to run according to its own internal logic. Rather, it is important for the church to act as a conscience. The church (and the people in it) should provide a living reminder of the God and of the good that transcends our worldly instrumentalities and principalities. The church is the soul of the system.
Given my familiarity with Hunter’s work, I was not surprised to find this a great collection of essays.
As with so much of his writing, I really liked the clarity with which Hunter writes. He tackles complex and often difficult subjects but he manages to write for the informed, but not necessarily expert, reader without dumbing things down or oversimplifying.
He explores political theory, politics, government, history, theology and sociology and reflects on what these diverse subjects might teach us about how to structure our lives, culture, and government.
He tackles secularism, libertarianism, and higher education among other topics that feature the interaction of faith and society. Even if you don’t agree with his perspective I think you will find Hunter a fair and clear guide to many of these issues and debates. Rather than amp up the outrage, he tries to bring a calm, prudent style and tone. Even amongst the controversy and strongly held opinions he seeks out common ground and a consistent sense of civility.
For those interested in higher education, and perhaps Christian higher education in particular, there are a couple of provocative essays included in this volume on those topics.
But anyone interested in issues surrounding religious liberty, secularism, or the ideas that underlie our current political debates will enjoy this collection.
Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.
But the Walkers are not alone. Prim Alice and the cynical Sandra, long dead former residents bound to the house, linger within its claustrophobic walls. Jostling for space, memory, and supremacy, they observe the family, trading barbs and reminiscences about their past lives. Though their voices cannot be heard, Alice and Sandra speak through the house itself—in the hiss of the radiator, a creak in the stairs, the dimming of a light bulb.
The living and dead are each haunted by painful truths that will soon surface with explosive force. When a new ghost appears, and Trenton begins to communicate with her, the spirit and human worlds collide—with cataclysmic results.
I thought it would be interesting to see how Oliver would handle a ghost story for an adult audience. So during the holidays with the whole family sick, I curled up on the couch and dived in. It turned out to be a dark and rather depressing ghost story.
Despite the darkness, generations of family dysfunction and the resulting tragedy, there is something compelling that pulls the story forward. Like watching a car wreck in slow motion, you can’t seem to look away as the tragic lives pile up and connect.
Oliver captures the unique voices of these disparate tragedies and packs the events leading to their convergence in/at the house.
That the book succeeds is due in large part to Oliver’s characters. Though some are flat in internal monologue, most come to life when interacting with each other, as Oliver’s ear for dialogue is finely tuned. She’s able to take the tropes of the traditional ghost story and give them new energy by creating ghosts who are realistic but still terrifyingly paranormal.
I try to stay away from books that feature the sort of ugliness Rooms contains but I have to admit there is something essentially human about the ugliness and sadness at the heart of the story. A desperate need to be loved, to find peace, to be comfortable in your skin and as part of a family.
The book’s narration by many characters, both spectral and non, keeps the reader on her toes. But the astute reader will, by the end, have discerned the truths that the characters try so urgently to keep hidden. The rooms of the title echo human emotions, how a kitchen can feel either warm and cozy or cold, dirty and barren; how a bedroom can house the most intimate acts of love and also the deepest sorrow and loneliness.
The last 50 pages of Rooms are as devastatingly emotional as any book I’ve recently encountered. It’ll take me awhile to get past repeating those sequences in my head. For a thriller, that’s as strong a recommendation as I can make.
Although author Lauren Oliver has had success as a YA novelist, it can be tricky making the transition to an older audience. But Rooms is written with grace and confidence, and packs the emotional wallop of someone unafraid of tackling difficult and delicate issues. Rooms doesn’t scare so much as haunt, and for a tale narrated in part by ghosts, it is remarkably full of life. Utterly captivating and electric, this richly atmospheric ghost story is excellent reading.
Something Wickedly Weird is most definitely here! Crampton Rock seems like a lovely seaside town…at least until dark. When eleven-year-old Stanley Buggles inherits a house from a mysterious uncle he didn’t know he had, he also inherits a mystery and some strange and sinister new neighbors. The questions begin to pile up: Why are all the dogs in town three-legged? Why is no one on the streets after dark? Is it true that the man who runs the candy shop is a werewolf? And why do those shoemakers look an awful lot like pirates? With the help of Mrs. Carelli, a housekeeper, and a talking stuffed fish, Stanley begins to unravel the mysteries that haunt his great-uncle’s death and have set their sights on him. A thrilling, spooky, and funny read, and the first installment of a kid-pleasing new series.
WHAT RELEVANCE DOES CHRISTIANITY HAVE IN OUR SOCIETAL SYSTEM? What place does the church have in a system that so often seems to be ordered only by the ultra-complex machinery of state power and corporate strategy? The essays in this volume address these questions by considering the relationship of the church to liberty, government, commerce, and education. These reflections reveal that we cannot allow the system to run according to its own internal logic. Rather, it is important for the church to act as a conscience. The church (and the people in it) should provide a living reminder of the God and of the good that transcends our worldly instrumentalities and principalities. The church is the soul of the system.
Wealthy Richard Walker has just died, leaving behind his country house full of rooms packed with the detritus of a lifetime. His estranged family—bitter ex-wife Caroline, troubled teenage son Trenton, and unforgiving daughter Minna—have arrived for their inheritance.