Hey, I bet that got your attention.I should say I love Mondays when I have books to share because it's such fun jumping from #IMWAYR blog to blog and seeing what everybody's reading.
Plus, it gives me an excuse to blab on about fun books.
Let's start with JASPER AND THE RIDDLE OF RILEY'S MIND
by Caroline Starr Rose.
Caroline and I "met" when our first books debuted. Similar titles: May B. and Glory Be meant some confusion, but we began to think of them as "our girls" and enjoyed their being on lists together.Caroline's other novels were written in verse.
JASPER is her first straight narrative, historical fiction, middle-grade novel and I strongly recommend it.
One thing I loved about this book and its writing was how authentic it sounded. I had to smile and roll an eye or two (because I've been on the author side of this particular criticism) when I posted my own Goodreads review just now. One reviewer criticized the "bad grammar."
Bad grammar? Please! It was perfect. I wasn't around in the 1800s and I've never been to the Klondike or even read that many books set there, and then. But when an old prospector says things like "Well, ain't that curious...he could smell Buck a mile off, on account of the fact he never bathed."
Okay, the Grammar Police might take a whack at that sentence, but I adore the sound of it.
We call it authentic dialog. People don't always speak perfect English, especially prospectors and boys racing from the bad guys.
One of my favorite quotes from Jasper, when he's pondering the clues he's finding (and I think this may have to go on my bulletin board of quotes):
"...stories can get knotted up like thread, but if you're patient, you can pick them apart, unravel them until you find the truth inside."
AND- Pre-order alert!
Here's a quick note about another book you won't want to miss.
I finished the ARC this weekend. A PUP CALLED TROUBLE.
Coming in early February.
So good!
I've read a bunch of books over the holidays, including
a Christmas gift, SOURDOUGH (for grownups)
which I love. But these are two of my favorites.
I'm looking forward to hearing what
everybody's reading on Monday. Share here or on
social media. Use the tag #IMWAYR and join in the fun!
7 comments:
Love the quote you chose from the book. I'll keep my eye out for A Pup Called Trouble. The cover and the title both seem like they would be attractive to students.
Thanks for sharing all three books, Augusta. Each one sounds good. I love books that integrate food into them, too. Happy Reading!
Forgot to add that I agree about the 'grammar'. It is more authentic to see people speaking as if they did speak, not always using the King's English, right?
I enjoyed both of these. Jasper is great for pairing with Jack London and the Klondike. Yes, I tell my students, people did make foolish choices in very bad weather!
Ooohhh, I've got PUP to read. Looking forward to it. I really enjoyed JASPER last year, more than I thought! Rose pulled me right in with her writing!
Once while reading out loud I channeled my grandmother's voice. The language was exactly how she spoke. Then one of the students asked why I was talking funny. Sigh....
Nice! Both are unfamiliar titles to me - so am glad to see these featured here. Will definitely check them out.
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