The Pearl

 

This was a pretty good novella by John Steinbeck. It concerns a family that is too poor to pay for their baby boy Coyolito's health. After finding a pearl the family starts to dream big thinking not only of medical help but for an education for their boy. Surprisedly this find isn't the answer to their prayers. Instead, the discovery of the pearl becomes a nightmare. People respond to them with jealousy lying and calling the pearl worthless. They come across thieves. Eventually the father has blood on his hands and the family is met with tragedy. The only John Steinbeck's books I have read have been short ones. One of these days I need to challenge myself to read The Grapes of Wrath. 

Celtic Mythology for Kids

 

When I was 15, I blew off my English class assignment of mythology. Now I've come to regret it. I wish I knew at that time how cool mythology could be. Now I'm 39 and I have to catch up with all of the mythology stories of tons of cultures. Anyway, this book for kids was pretty cool. It has good illustrations, and the stories are simply told. My favorite story was about the seal catcher who turns into a seal and realizes the error of his ways. I also liked the Lugh story about a man who tries to enter a kingdom but has to a master in a skill that only one person possesses, only to discover that being a many-skilled person is a rarity in itself.  

Chinese Myths and Legends

 

This was an ok children's book about Chinese mythology which I know little about. It was a pretty good introduction to the culture. Half the book is about The Monkey King who comes across as a stubborn creature who eventually learns wisdom from his experiences. I like reading mythology books from the children's section since they tend to get to the point.

Emma in Winter

 

I loved Penelope Farmer's Charlotte Sometimes. It should be considered a children's classic. I decided to try another one of her books and this was just ok. It's in the same Aviary Hall series that Charlotte Sometimes was put in. It's about two classmates who travel backwards in time together while they sleep. I liked how the friendship developed but there was nothing special about this book. It was just a pleasant read. 

My Best Friend's Exorcism

 

This is the first Grady Hendrix book I've read, and I enjoyed it a lot. I already was curious about Hendrix because I've heard great stuff about his book Paperbacks from Hell which discusses horror books from the 1970s and 1980s. Gretchen and Abby have been best friends for years. However, Gretchen starts to act funky and very rebellious. Her parents are embarrassed. For a time, Abby is the only one who will talk to Gretchen since she's angered their other friends. Even after Gretchen seemingly miraculously recovers only Abby knows she is still the same. She realizes her friend's possessed and even though everyone thinks she's mad she finds an exorcist. Only she ends up doing the whole work herself. The exorcist character was a blast. I also really like the cover art. VHS tapes did have some awesome art. (I'm approaching 40 so I guess I must be old if I remember going to video stores frequently as a kid.) This is more than a horror book. It's one of the best books I've read about the bond of friendships. Recommended.  

Alfred and Guinevere

 

This was an ok novella written by poet James Schulyer. It didn't blow my mind away, but its simplicity was kind of beautiful. It's about a brother and sister who go to their uncle and grandmother's house. It is told mostly through Guinevere's diary. The book tries to get into the mind of children and their attempts at understanding the world around them. Some of it was funny. I read from New York Review Books all the time. They really do uncover treasures from the past. I haven't found one of their books yet that wasn't worth reading. 

Beside the Sea

 

This book was just ok. It was suggested by a website as one of the best novellas ever written which is something I disagree with. It's about a mentally ill woman who ends up taking her children's lives. She tries to protect her children all the time, but it turns out their own home is where the trouble really lies. While the book was believable and written well, I didn't anything unique in its depiction. This plot has been written so many times.