Book Review: The Lady And The Unicorn

 

Tracy Chevalier can take a piece of art and create a whole, believable back story. When reading her book, you get a sense of ownership and see in this case, the famous Cluny tapestries in a whole new light. You live the creation of these beautiful works of art and watch each one unfold as a result of her plot. Not only does she describe the intricate work of their creation, but the stimulus that created the illustrations. The book itself is a tapestry of interwoven stories, highlighting the personalities that make up a slice of life in renaissance France. Each person is a thread that helps influence the amazing tapestries that become the final product. I loved this book.


Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman

Book Review: "Rather Unpleasant CAUTIONARY TALES for Ill-Mannered & Immoderate Children"

I don't like all the rhyming books- try reading them four times in a row and watch as your eyes cross. It's as though they are all using the same vocabulary book and just changing the sentences. Ima Bratt has reinvented the rhyming book with descriptive prose that is a roller coaster ride of the unexpected. I adored this book- but I will caution- it's not for everybody. I don't think I would read it to my own grandkids until they are quite older and can understand that the "Tales" are lessons and not meant to scare them. They are 'Unpleasant Tales" of children that do not follow rules and come to dire endings. Each story is a portrait of a child that thoughtfully and humorously drawn to give warnings of the consequence of what can happen when you eat too much candy, don't follow rules, have tantrums. It's not preachy, but almost has a Mad magazine quality to each Tale. Reading it brought back memories of the rather unpleasant children from Will Wonka- (the first one and one of my favorite movies as a child) My grandmother often read the original Grimms Fairy Tales to me, and I still have them ready to read to my own grandchildren. However, I don't know if their parents will allow them yet. They are scary! This book is scary! But I do wonder in our world where children are so quick to break laws- maybe they need to be scared. Read the book alone and you decide if it's appropriate. I gave five stars not because I think the book is necessarily right for young children- but because I think Ima Bratt is a genius.

Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman

The DaVinci Code: Book Review

The DaVinci Code rocked the world when it came out. Just by chance, I had finished "Holy Blood Holy Grail" when I picked up Dan Brown's book- so I was well prepared for the plot twists and turns. Controversial as well as compelling, it lead to many long talks by the water cooler at work. Dan Brown was the first to bring many of the legends of the family of Jesus to today's culture and gives you food for thought. Entertaining, thought provoking as well as a darn good read- the DaVinci Code opened the doorway to think about the many possibilities of interpretation of things we may not have ever questioned.

Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman

Book Review: Clavell's "King Rat"

James Clavell's stunning book on the brutal life inside a Japanese prison war camp during WW2. Gritty and compelling, it's the story of how soldiers survive, the upper crust British officers with their attitude of superiority are soon overshadowed by streetwise enlisted men (Americans-to boot) who are able to use their survival skills to not only live, but flourish ( as much as you can in a POW camp). Under these circumstances men who would be nothing more than beneath contempt find themselves as the shakers and movers, while their counterparts resent the shift of power. The horrific surroundings bring out the best in some, the worst in others, and we are left to wonder does the man make the circumstance, or do the circumstance make the man?

Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman

A New Giveaway!

Welcome to the $200 Toys R Us Gift Card Giveaway!

With my latest book I'll take you on a another journey, this time to Asia, landing in South Korea.

Once again, children can learn how life is like for young people on the other side of the globe. From food to famous landmarks, they will learn that's it's easy to find something in common with people in different countries.

This is the third book in the series, and we'd like to celebrate with a giveaway! One winner will receive a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card and a set of my cultural books.

The series includes:

• If you were me and lived in... Mexico: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World.
• If you were me and lived in... France: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World.
• If you were me and lived in... South Korea: A Child's Introduction to Cultures Around the World.

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Enter to win a $200 Toys R Us Gift Card and a copy of the "If you were me and lived in…" series

Complete the tasks below to earn entries into this giveaway.

Refer your friends using your unique link at the top of the Rafflecopter for even more chances to win.

One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries.

Open in the United States.

Ends at 11:59pm EST on July 9th, 2013.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Multicoloured Hat

Great story about a hat that pays it forward. Mrs Getahat was feeling bored and lonely. Her hands could not produce the hats and she felt quite useless. Realizing that a sewing machine would overcome these problems,she not only creates a beautiful hat but it restores her to feeling her old self again. Wind blows it to someone being teased about their red hair and the hat helps the child to become accepted by his peers. And so it goes, from person to person, helping find their feet and be secure in themselves. The book closes with a cute coloring book to reinforce the story. Well done!

Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman

Good Grief: A Book Review

I never read what book is about before I start it. I buy from the suggested list from Amazon. This book touched a cord. I read while I was grieving for my Mom and understood and felt all of Sophie's confusion and pain. Was it great literature- no- but I don't think it was ever anything more than the story of a woman rebuilding her world after all her dreams were shattered. Many claim it was trite and hokey- well, I think it's a book about hope. Sometimes the story doesn't have to be believable to accomplish what it sets out to do. For me, Good Grief gave me a window to look out from my well of sorrow with its gentle humor, and threw a lifeline that while your life may be at its lowest point, something may be just a move away to bring you back.

Happy Reading!
Carole P. Roman