Let's start with the question every Dan Brown fan wants answered: Is The Lost Symbol as good as The Da Vinci Code? Simply put, yes. Brown has mastered the art of blending nail-biting suspense with random arcana (from pop science to religion), and The Lost Symbol is an enthralling mix. And what a dazzling accomplishment that is, considering that rabid fans and skeptics alike are scrutinizing every word.
The Lost Symbol begins with an ancient ritual, a shadowy enclave, and of course, a secret. Readers know they are in Dan Brown territory when, by the end of the first chapter, a secret within a secret is revealed. To tell too much would ruin the fun of reading this delicious thriller, so you will find no spoilers here. Suffice it to say that as with many series featuring a recurring character, there is a bit of a formula at work (one that fans will love). Again, brilliant Harvard professor Robert Langdon finds himself in a predicament that requires his vast knowledge of symbology and superior problem-solving skills to save the day. The setting, unlike other Robert Langdon novels, is stateside, and in Brown's hands Washington D.C. is as fascinating as Paris or Vatican City (note to the D.C. tourism board: get your "Lost Symbol" tour in order). And, as with other Dan Brown books, the pace is relentless, the revelations many, and there is an endless parade of intriguing factoids that will make you feel like you are spending the afternoon with Robert Langdon and the guys from Mythbusters.
Nothing is as it seems in a Robert Langdon novel, and The Lost Symbol itself is no exception--a page-turner to be sure, but Brown also challenges his fans to open their minds to new information. Skeptical? Imagine how many other thrillers would spawn millions of Google searches for noetic science, superstring theory, and Apotheosis of Washington. The Lost Symbol is brain candy of the best sort--just make sure to set aside time to enjoy your meal. --Daphne Durham
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Baldacci (First Family
From Publishers Weekly
This promising first in a new series from bestseller Baldacci (First Family) introduces Beth Perry, chief of the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police, and Beth's younger sister, Mace Perry, a former police officer dubbed the Patty Hearst of the twenty-first century after she was seized by bandits, drugged and taken along on a series of armed robberies around Washington. Mace, who's just getting out of prison after serving a two-year sentence, is willing to risk everything to clear her name and reclaim her life as a cop by cracking a big case on her own. The rape-murder of a powerful lawyer as well as the killing of a prominent U.S. attorney provide Mace an opportunity to vindicate herself. While Baldacci draws his characters in bright primary colors, and some of the action reaches comic book proportions, he delivers his usual intricate plotting and sets the stage nicely for highly competent Beth and impulsive, streetwise Mace to take on more bad guys. (Oct. 27)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights
This promising first in a new series from bestseller Baldacci (First Family) introduces Beth Perry, chief of the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police, and Beth's younger sister, Mace Perry, a former police officer dubbed the Patty Hearst of the twenty-first century after she was seized by bandits, drugged and taken along on a series of armed robberies around Washington. Mace, who's just getting out of prison after serving a two-year sentence, is willing to risk everything to clear her name and reclaim her life as a cop by cracking a big case on her own. The rape-murder of a powerful lawyer as well as the killing of a prominent U.S. attorney provide Mace an opportunity to vindicate herself. While Baldacci draws his characters in bright primary colors, and some of the action reaches comic book proportions, he delivers his usual intricate plotting and sets the stage nicely for highly competent Beth and impulsive, streetwise Mace to take on more bad guys. (Oct. 27)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights
Swiss Family Robinson
Language: 0
Violence: 2
Sexual Content: 0
Adult Themes: 0
Title: The Swiss Family Robinson (Great Illustrated Classics)
Author: Johann Wyss, adapted by Eliza Gatewood Warren
Ratings Explanation
Violence: The family kills many animals, most of which they eat. Some animal kingdom violence, animals attack and kill each other.
Synopsis
Sailing from Switzerland, the Swiss family Robinson is headed for an island near New Guinea where they plan to establish a colony, but while underway they encounter a violent storm. Abandoned by the captain and crew, the family of father, mother and four sons must fend for themselves. They are able to reach an uninhabited island where they establish a home and survive for years against wild animals and the whims of nature. While on the island their resourcefulness and bravery are tested, but they come to love their home. When a ship sails into their bay, they must decide if they want to return to their homeland or stay on the island.
A true adventure!
There are so many great new books that sometimes we forget to go back and read the classics we grew up on. We read this aloud with our family and it was enjoyed by all. We watched the Disney movie a few years ago so the kids kept waiting for the pirates and the coconut bombs to appear in the story. They never do, so either that part was edited from this abridged version, or the pirates are an invention of Disney. But even without the pirates it is a great read. First published in 1813, this adventure has truly stood the test of time!
Categories: Adventure, All Ages
Violence: 2
Sexual Content: 0
Adult Themes: 0
Title: The Swiss Family Robinson (Great Illustrated Classics)
Author: Johann Wyss, adapted by Eliza Gatewood Warren
Ratings Explanation
Violence: The family kills many animals, most of which they eat. Some animal kingdom violence, animals attack and kill each other.
Synopsis
Sailing from Switzerland, the Swiss family Robinson is headed for an island near New Guinea where they plan to establish a colony, but while underway they encounter a violent storm. Abandoned by the captain and crew, the family of father, mother and four sons must fend for themselves. They are able to reach an uninhabited island where they establish a home and survive for years against wild animals and the whims of nature. While on the island their resourcefulness and bravery are tested, but they come to love their home. When a ship sails into their bay, they must decide if they want to return to their homeland or stay on the island.
A true adventure!
There are so many great new books that sometimes we forget to go back and read the classics we grew up on. We read this aloud with our family and it was enjoyed by all. We watched the Disney movie a few years ago so the kids kept waiting for the pirates and the coconut bombs to appear in the story. They never do, so either that part was edited from this abridged version, or the pirates are an invention of Disney. But even without the pirates it is a great read. First published in 1813, this adventure has truly stood the test of time!
Categories: Adventure, All Ages
The Magician Author: Michael Scott
Language: 0
Violence: 3
Sexual Content: 0
Adult Themes: 0
Title: The Magician
Author: Michael Scott
Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel
Rating Explanation
Violence: The characters are attacked by a creature made of wax. There is a fight between Scatty and 12 French police officers. She uses swords and nunchaku but there are no deaths. A komodo dragon-like ancient monster is loosed on Paris. It attacks the house where the characters are staying. Scatty fights it, but is finally carried off unconscious. There is sword fighting and fire attacks. The komodo dragon monster is stabbed with a sword several times. The characters descend into the catacombs of Paris, which are creepy, and meet Ares, the God of War. The gargoyles on Notre Dame are brought to life with magic and fight the twins and their friends. The twins destroy the army of gargoyles using their magic.
Synopsis
After narrowly escaping Dr. John Dee in Ojai, Nicholas, Sophie, Josh, and Scatty leave California via a ley line and emerge in Paris, the city Nicholas calls home. Perenelle is still improsoned at Alcatraz and she and Nicholas continue to age one year for every day they cannot brew their immortality potion. They must retreive the Book of Abraham the Mage, but now the powerful Niccolo Machiavelli is on Dee’s side. Defeating them both to get the book will be nearly impossible. Nicholas still believes that Sophie and Josh are the twins of the prophecy and that together they are capable of anything, but first Sophie must learn the Magic of Fire and Josh’s powers must be awakened. There is only one in Paris who can awaken Josh, and there will be a price to be paid.
I really like this series. It is exciting and compelling with a great deal of action, yet it is not gory or inappropriate for younger readers. Both books have certainly held my interest and I am looking forward to the next book, The Sorceress, which will be released in May of 2009.
©2009 The Literate Mother
Eclipse - Twilight Series, Book 3
Language:1
Violence: 5
Sexuality: 4
Adult Themes: 2
Title: Eclipse - Twilight Series, Book 3
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Ratings Explanation
Language: Bella writes a note to Edward - “Screw the protecting me crap.” She also demands, “What the hell is this all about?”
Violence: A clash between the werewolves and the Cullen Coven as they try to capture Victoria who treads along the boundary between the Quileute Reservation and the Town of Forks. Rosalie refers to Bella’s experience in Twilight, where Bella was cornered by four men that were planning to rape her, had Edward not rescued her. Rosalie recounts her last human experience. She was violently raped by her wealthy fiance’ and his cluster of friends. One friend ”…looked me over like I was a horse he was buying.” The five men raped Rosalie and left her in the street for dead. Rosalie was rescued by Carlisle and transformed into a vampire. Rosalie systematically killed all who had raped her. Jacob’s hand gets sliced by a boning knife while doing dishes with Bella. Vampires break into Bella’s home and steal belongings that have her scent on them. The Newborn Vampire Army creates havoc in Seattle with hundreds of unexplained deaths. Jasper recounts gruesome vampire wars in Mexico. Bella attends a tribal council with Jacob, where the History of the Quileutes is recounted. The history includes the vampire’s slaughter of their tribe. The suicide sacrifice of Taha Aki’s wife, as well as the tribe’s metamorphisis into werewolf protectors. Jacob physically forces himself upon Bella, kissing her. Bella breaks her hand punching him in the jaw. Victoria and Riley, evil vampires, fight Edward and Seth the Werewolf. The werewolf rips Riley the vampire to pieces and dismembers his body. Edward kills Victoria. The Cullen Coven defeat the Newborn Vampire Army. The Cullen Coven collect the pieces of the dismembered corpses of the vampires and burn them. A Newborn Vampire girl survives the battle. She cannot control her thirst. The Volturi arrive and dispose of the girl.
Sexuality: Meyer’s describes the most innocent of kisses in a very slow, sensuous manner. Charlie, Bella’s father asks her if they are having sex. Bella is mortified. She has never been immoral. Jacob Black and Edward are described in vivid detail. ie.) “..six foot seven inches of Jacob’s long body, muscled up the way no normal sixteen-and-a-half-year -old ever had been. I saw those eyes rake over his tight black t-shirt….” Werewolves are imprinted to their mate. They instantly know who their soul mate is when they see them. Quil imprints when he sees a two year old girl. (He will be her friend, until she is older and comes to the realization that they are mates.) Edward tells Bella, “You look…sexy.” Edward lifts her onto a counter to kiss him. Bella does not want to give up the human experience of sex. She begins to take her clothes off the seduce Edward. Edward tells Bella he will not have sex with her until they are married. She gives him a hard time about protecting his virtue. He will not back down. He is protecting her virtue as well. Bella freezes in a snowstorm. Jacob has to be the one to warm her up, since werewolves are hot-blooded. Edward is upset, but sees that he has to allow Jacob to climb in Bella’s sleeping bag to warm her up. Jacob suggests Bella take her clothes off and she would warm up really fast. Edward tells Jacob to control his thoughts. (Edward can read other’s thoughts.) Jacob and Bella share an intense first kiss.
Adult Themes: Bella lies to her father about where she is going so that she can spend the weekend with Edward. Bella loves both Jacob and Edward. She can envision her life with each of them. She has to make a decision and live with the consequences.
Synopsis
Bella and Edward are back to together again. Bella laments the passing of time. Each day is a day she will be older than her non-aging vampire boyfriend, Edward, who was transformed into a vampire, when he was just seventeen. The last few months of high school rapidly pass as Bella anxiously awaits and woefully dreads graduation. Bella’s human days are numbered. She tries to live her final human experiences to the fullest. Bella has decided that after graduation she will become a vampire; and she desires Edward to be the one to make her immortal. Edward agrees, if and only if they are married first. Bella ponders the consequences of her impending decision to become a vampire. Most poignantly, the impact upon family and friends. She is fearful of what she may become.
Bella discovers that she is torn between her love for Edward and surprisingly, her unrequited love for her best friend, Jacob. She wishes she could be divided in two and live both lives.
Meanwhile, Victoria seeks revenge. She has created an army of “Newborn Vampires”, who are ravaging the city of Seattle. (Victoria was James, “ The Tracker’s” mate, from the first book, Twilight. In Twilight, the Cullen Coven dismembered and burned James - the only way to kill a vampire; to save Bella’s life.) The werewolves and the Cullen Coven unite to fend off the “Newborn Vampire” Army. Edward and Jacob personally unite to protect Bella. The Volturi, from book two, New Moon, also make a chilling appearance after the vicious battle is fought.
Meyer’s talent lies in capturing the intense emotions you experience in a first crush/first kiss/first love. The soap opera quality of the Twilight Series hooks young and younger readers alike, as you consume the drivel to see ”What will happen next?”. In book three, Bella is finally developing into a more mature character. She thinks about the ramifications of her impending “immortal” decision. What will be most identifiable to young readers will be Bella’s torn heart, between her “True Love”, Edward and her “Best Friend”, Jacob. Bella will always wonder what her life would have been like had she chosen the other.
Bella Swann, as a role-model to young women is extremely discouraging. Bella has redeeming character traits. Bella is a responsible teenager, who competently handles the running of a household. She grocery shops, prepares meals, and does her laundry, in addition to being an A+ student. Bella also expresses maturity in relationships with her peers.
Although, Bella’s relationship with Edward is unhealthy. Bella has low self-esteem. (Most teenage girls will identify easily with this.) Bella is extremely self-deprecating, and she frequently describes Edward as perfect. She juxtaposes her woeful inadequecies next to his perfection in her thoughts and voice. Bella constantly diminishes her self-worth and her frequent self- descriptive words are “ordinary” and “regular”.
The underlying message is, “Bella is of exceptional value, as long as someone of the opposite sex loves her.” Edward is perfection. Bella reminds us of his perfection and how lucky she is to have him. Never does she acknowledge that she deserves to have someone attractive love her. All of Edward’s controlling behaviors are deemed acceptable, and forgiven, on the premise that he loves her.
Eclipse would definitely be a great book to open discussion regarding self-worth, as well as the importance of virtue in relationships. Eclipse is more appropriate for high school age readers.
©2009 The Literate Mother
Island of the Blue Dolphins Author: Scott O’Dell
Language: 0
Violence: 3
Sexual Content: 0
Adult Themes: 1
Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Author: Scott O’Dell
Newbery Award Winner
Ratings Explanation
Violence: Islanders hunt and skin sea otter. Many men are killed in a battle between Aleuts and the islanders. Wild dogs kill a young boy. Karana shoots dogs with arrows and kills several. She also kills an octopus.
Adult Themes: Karana, a young woman, looses her entire family and must survive alone.
Synopsis
The Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the true story of a young girl who lives on a remote island. After Aleuts visit the island and kill most of the men, including her father, a ship comes to take the survivors away. Shortly after boarding the ship, she realizes that her younger brother has been left behind on the island. She cannot bear to leave him, although the chief promises that they will return to rescue him later, and jumps off the ship. The rest of the book is the story of her lonely survival on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
I read this book as a child and, if memory serves, I liked it. Unfortunately, this reading did not live up to the memory. I had completely forgotten how sad the story is. We read it aloud as a family and it was a little upsetting for our 7-year old and the 10-year old thought it was boring. (He’ll be reading it next year in school, so he’ll get another chance to enjoy it.) Her determination to survive is admirable, but her struggles and the harsh environment wore on us. Maybe it is more upsetting now because I’m reading it from the perspective of a mother.
©2009 The Literate Mother
NUMBER THE STARS
Language: 0
Violence: 2
Sexual Content: 0
Adult Themes: 2
Title: Number the Stars
Author: Lois Lowry
Newberry Medal Recipient
Ratings Explanation
Violence: The Germans burn down part of Tivoli, an amusement park in Copenhagen, to destroy the Dane’s morale. The Nazis raided a Resistance meeting. They shot people as they ran for safety. Lisse, Annemarie’s older sister, was run down by a military car. Peter is later captured and executed by the Germans in the public square at Ryvangen. The Nazis take lists of all the Jews in the congregation, from the synagogue, and plan to relocate them to concentration camps. The Nazis burst into the Johansen’s apartment in the middle of the night in search of the Rosen Family who live across the hall. Ellen Rosen assumes the name of Lisse Johansen. The German officer pulls Ellen Rosen’s dark curls and demands to know why she is not blond like the other Johansen daughters. Annemarie’s mother falls and breaks her ankle while returning from guiding the Rosens through the woods to the harbor for their escape to Sweden. Annemarie is stopped by four German soldiers and two dogs, in the pre-dawn hours, while running through the woods to deliver a forgotten handkerchief used to aid the escaping Jews. (Swedish scientists prevented detection of the escaping Jews by creating a powerful powder composed of dried rabbit’s blood and cocaine. The blood attracted the dogs, and the cocaine numbed their noses and temporarily destroyed their sense of smell. Many lives were saved by this device.)
Adult Themes: The German Nazis have invaded Denmark and have made life very difficult for the Danes. The Jews of Denmark are “relocated”.
Summary
Annemarie, a ten year old girl, lives in Copenhagen, Denmark. Her parents have been extremely somber since the death of her older sister, Lisse. Life is very difficult during the German occupation. Annemarie longs for cupcakes and sweets, but everything delicious to eat is redistributed for use by the German Army. Annemarie matures as she participates in aiding the Rosen Family’s escape to Sweden. She plays an integral part in salvaging the forgotten decoy that ultimately saves the Rosens in their escape from the Nazis.
I loved the young, strong, heroine found in Annemarie Johansen. I strongly recommend this book for young readers.
©2009 The Literate Mother
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