Since I handily read two or even three times that many books in a given year, I’ve decided to only count the books I read at work towards my goal. Watching 50 movies is going to be a much harder goal to reach, but I’ll do my best. I foresee many, many movie days with Cathy in my future…which is more than fine with me!

I’ll try and post a list of what I’ve read and watched at the end of each month so keep tabs on where I stand. And so that you can all be impressed (or appalled) by what I consume.

Wish me luck!

I loved the Frances books when I was younger–I still love them today, in fact. Frances is a kindred spirit; I identified wholeheartedly with her feelings about food and bed and younger siblings. I wasn’t as good at making up songs for every situation, but I appreciated her talent.

I had no idea that Russell Hoban had a second authorial career publishing books for adults. Several of them look quite interesting, most especially Riddley Walker. I will have to track it down after the holidays.

Then Salon posted this brilliant rebuttal, and all was right with the world again.

Well, until the next time that someone who doesn’t know what they’re talking about opens their pie-hole.

But it’s simply too good not to share!

Hey Girl. I like the library too.

With a few condescending jabs at what does and doesn’t constitute a movie (or book) that children will understand and love, of course. Sigh.

I have the book, although I confess that I haven’t read it yet; I doubt I will have the time to before I see the movie. But I know enough about the book to be able to enjoy and appreciate what is so clearly a labor of love and a very faithful adaptation of excellent source material. And I’m also smart enough to know that it’s perfectly accessible to children–the very same children who love the book will surely love the movie as well. Give the kids credit for being smart enough to get it, foolish adults!

Claudia lives outside, equally a prisoner. Her world is trapped by the stifling constraints of Protocol; all advanced technology is forbidden, and time is artificially frozen in the 17th century. Her marriage has already been arranged by her father, and Claudia has become embroiled in a mad scheme to assassinate the queen.

When Finn and Claudia manage to contact each other by means of a crystal key, both are convinced that only the other can save them. But the true nature of Incarceron is beyond what either of them could ever have imagined.

I loved these books so much. They’re an incredible mixture of grim dystopian sci-fi and high fantasy. The world building was amazing–the contrast between Claudia’s artificial 17th century faux-Europe and the extremely brutal yet technologically advanced world of Incarceron was incredible. Each world has its benefits and its pitfalls, and neither can survive without the other. Both Finn and Claudia are trapped, and neither can escape without the other. And that remains true in the second books as well; Sapphique picks up where Incarceron stops.

While I’d like to go back to the world and learn more about the history that was only hinted at, I don’t think there needs to be a third book to complete the series.

And I don’t even want to talk about the movie.

Catherine Fisher’s site

Source: borrowed from library