ELEANOR AND PARK: A YOUNG ADULT NOVEL BY RAINBOW ROWELL

Hi, welcome back,

I have just finished  a wonderful young adult novel  called Eleanor and Park, written by Rainbow Rowell. This novel is a modern-day  Romeo and Juliet,  which take place in the year 1986, in Omaha Nebraska.  


AMERICAN AUTHOR: RAINBOW ROWELL





NOVEL : ELEANOR AND PARK

 


REVIEW:

Eleanor and Park is a story of friendship, love and many other issues mixed into the pot. The union of two social  misfits, Eleanor nicknamed "big red," due to her full figure and flaming red curls, and Park, who is from a mixed racial family, his mother Korean, his father white.

The story is told from a two-point  perspective, Eleanor's and Park. 

Eleanor has just returned home after a year's absence, reunited with her family. She lives in a small crowded house without any privacy, sharing a bedroom with her brothers and sisters. Eleanor is careful to avoid her step-father, a verbally abusive controlling bully.

Park comes from the ideal nuclear home; his parents' happily married, living in a nice modest house with all the amenities. He doesn't long for material needs, but for his father's approval.
 
Their relationship spans over a school year, beginning on the bus ride to and from school. They soon become aware of a common interest they both share, a passion for comics and music. In the weeks to follow, they begin to notice the most minute details of one another, feelings neither has had before.  

Over time what started out as friendship turns to love, a first real relationship for both. As with any relationship, they too face criticism, fears, hidden secrets and new feelings and discoveries.  
Doors are opened; new emotions explored, and challenges faced.
 
 Eleanor and Park starts out slowly, but then without warning grabs you and takes you along for a fast unexpected ride. 

Rainbow  Rowell touches on many issues, from bullying to abuse all while Eleanor and Park find themselves in a new relationship.  She doesn't shy away from hard issues, instead hits them head on. She has a keen insight  into the lives of teenagers, their emotions and feelings, which are evident in her novel.

I would highly recommend Eleanor and Park to readers ages 14+.

Other books by Rainbow Rowell:

Attachment: an adult novel
Fangirl: young adult novel coming out September 2013
Landline: young adult novel coming out 2014

Happy reading,
Bye
Rosalyne
 

THE COMPOSER IS DEAD : AN INTRODUCTION TO THE ORCHESTRA

Hi, Welcome back

 

“If music be the food of love, play on...” William Shakespeare. 

Music fills the quiet spaces, a combination of notes, rhythms sounds and melodies blended.

Music comes in all forms, from the subtlest of sound to the most eclectic. There is something for every taste, from classical to heavy metal.  

Author Daniel Handler, known to many by his pen name, Lemony Snicket, has combined a wonderful picture book with music. The Composer is Dead introduces kids to the world of classical music. Daniel himself, narrates the story, accompanied by music played by the San Francisco Orchestra. The Composer is Dead, introduces the reader to  the instruments of an orchestra, each with their own sound. 

 Daniel Handler aka: Lemony Snicket

American author Daniel Handler is a writer, screen writer and musician. He is the author of many children's books including the best selling, Series of Unfortunate Events. Many of his children's books are written under his pseudonym Lemony Snicket.

 

THE COMPOSER IS DEAD 

 

 Review : The Composer is Dead

The Composer is Dead, is, a whimsical whodunit mystery that takes place in the concert hall. Right at the opening page, the composer is discovered, dead.  In walks the inspector, his role throughout the story to question the orchestra. He begins in the strings interviewing the violins, cello's bass and lastly, the viola. Once satisfied they did not murder the composer he moves on to the woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Each instrument in the orchestra is highlighted throughout the story. 

A mix of genres played, from classical Waltz to  nightclub Jazz, by a menagerie of instruments.

The Composer is Dead can be enjoyed in several ways. One, read as a book, or listen to the story accompanied by the music. Lemony Snicket narrates the story as the Inspector, accompanied by the music written by Nathaniel Stookey.

Illustrator: Carson Ellis

 
Born in Vancouver Canada, artist Carson Ellis resides in Oregon with her family. A well-known artist,  who has not only illustrated The Composer is Dead, but other children's novels; Wildwood and  The Mysterious Benedict Society.

     

Composer: Nathaniel Stookey

  

   

Nathaniel Stookey is the writer and composer for Lemony Snicket's: The Composer is Dead. American trained musician, he has shared collaborations with many great orchestra's including the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Cleveland Orchestra. 

Link to a preview and interview from The Composer is Dead with Daniel Handler and Nathaniel Stookey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPBDHnlhvSQ

Sergei Prokofiev: 1891-1953

Russian composer, Sergei Prokofiev wrote Peter and the Wolf, a classical story narrated to music. 

The instruments played are linked with the characters in the story. Flutes blended with the bird, duck the oboe, the hunters the kettledrums and Peter the violins. The music is repeated throughout the story as a way to familiarize children with each instrument.

You tube link to Peter and the wolf: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfM7Y9Pc

 Camille Saint- Saens (1835-1921)

Camille Saint- Saens, French Composer, wrote Carnival of the Animals. He too combined narration with music to tell the story using strings, pianos, bass and flutes.

You tube Carnival of the Animals narrated by Roger Moore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2l_-1Lachg 

  

Books by Lemony Snicket:

Picture Books: 

13 Words- A Word Like No Other

A Lump of Coal

The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: A Christmas Story

The Dark

Middle Grade Books: 

Series of Unfortunate Events (13books)

Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid

New Series: Who Could that be at this Hour (All the wrong questions Volume 1)

Books by Daniel Handler: (Teen) 

Why We Broke Up

The Basic Eight

Adverbs: A Novel

I hope you enjoy an introduction to the orchestra. 

Happy Reading, 

Bye 

Rosalyne

VARIANT: YA SCIENCE FICTION THRILLER

Hi, welcome back.

Spring is definitely around the corner. Yes, there's still a layer of snow on the ground, but I have seen my first robin, a sure sign of better weather to come.

Meanwhile, I have been reading up a storm, and am excited to share with you a novel called Variant by Robison Wells.


 AUTHOR ROBISON WELLS:



Robison Wells is an American author.  Variant is a YA science fiction thriller for teens. Variant  has been named by  Publishers Weekly as one of the best books for 2011. His novel has also been selected by YALSA picks for reluctant readers.




VARIANT

REVIEW:

Benson has spent most of his childhood bouncing from one foster home to another. He longingly wants to settle, find a place where he can call home.

Benson’s life is about to change in more ways than he could ever imagine. Thrilled, he learns of his acceptance to Mayfield Academy, a private school located across the country. He dreams of what awaits him, a new beginning, belonging and acceptance.

Benson is somewhat surprised by the state of the school protected more like a fortress or prison, vacant of students other than two outside. This along should have been a warning to flee, but his excitement overshadows all else.

Benson enters the school only to discover that there is no adult supervision, no teachers, principal, guidance attendants or caretakers.  The students alone run the school, their every move monitored by cameras, their every word picked up by microphones.

It isn’t long before Benson discovers there is no escape, and those who’ve tried before him have failed.

George Orwell covered the subject of "big brother in his novel 1984. Likewise, Robison Wells has done the same in his novel Variant. A work of fiction, but insightful bringing forth some pertinent questions.  With the advancement in technology and social media, how much of our lives are still private? Satellites monitor our every move, cameras taking our pictures on the road, in the malls and elevators. Even in our homes, we’re not completely shielded, exposed to outside monitoring every time we boot up our computers. Only those living off the grid can maintain a somewhat private existence.

Like a house of cards, social structure and order is fragile in Robison Well’s novel Variant.  

Breakdown of society is not a new concept, one well depicted in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. A common thread shared in both novels. 

Variant is unpredictable with many surprises and unexpected events. A fun fast read that will keep you guessing until the very end. 

I would recommend Variant for ages 12+

 Novels by Robison Wells:

   

FEEDBACK




 BLACK OUT
    

GOING DARK



 
Two books I'd recommend both classics:

LORD OF THE FLIES BY WILLIAM GOLDING           

                                              
                                  
  
1984 BY GEORGE ORWELL  

Happy reading, 

Bye 

Rosalyne