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Friday, March 10, 2006

The Book of Everything

Author: Guus Kuijer, translated by John Nieuwenhuizen
Rating:
Reading Level: 6th and up


Publisher: Arthur Levine Books
Edition: Manuscript, 2006 (Hardcover U.S. edition)


A slim volume with a tremendous vision. Or, maybe I should say with tremendous Visions -- since 9-year-old Thomas, the protagonist, seems to be seeing many of them, and most prominently, the Lord Jesus.

A work of translation (from Dutch,) it is beautifully fluid. Enough references of the place, time, and history to pinpoint the setting but never interfere with the lean main story. Truly a gem.

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Monday, March 06, 2006

A Game of Thrones

Author: George R.R. Martin
Rating:
Reading Level: Adult

Pages: 864
Publisher: Spectra
Edition: Paperback, 1996

Thoroughly engrossing -- full of gorey war and killing details... but the characters are so well drawn that it rings completely true. The twists and turns of the plotline, especially toward the end of this 800+-page book, kept me so emotionally involved and pumped that I am quite ready to go on to the next book -- almost 1,000 pages long. It is soap-opera-esque, but with all the right forumulae for a successful one! I guess I truly crossed a threshold here with the reading of this book -- officially I am now a genuine fantasy reader who is not daunted by the length of the book, only annoyed if the book is poorly presented!

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