Top Twenty!

What: Top twenty favorite books in no particular order. Don’t think about it for too long. Take twenty minutes only to compile your list. Bold the ones you’ve read, or reread, since you’ve started blogging. Include novels, non fiction and plays.

It was harder than I thought, narrowing my list down to Only twenty books, but it was a lot of fun!

Pride and Prejudice
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Mandy
Daddy Long Legs
Make Lemonade
The Silver Cricket
Going Solo
Where the Red Fern Grows
Out of the Dust
Banner in the Sky
The Cross and the Switchblade
Maniac Magee
Little Britches
Gods Smuggler
Two are Better than One
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Thief Lord
The Gamage Cup
Golden
Julie

A poem I wrote, ( I was in a bad mood that day ).

Constant is the rain,
sinking my spirits down
into the muddy ground
like a limp leaf.

Looming are the clouds,
colorless and steady,
promising a future of
wetness and cold.

Dark are my thoughts,
ready to murder anyone
who says a sunny word
to me.

Dead is the sibling,
the one that disregarded
his sisters warning.

Its funny, but I really like this one. Weird huh? Maybe because in the beginning it starts out so poetic, kinda sorta;). But after the second verse all the poeticness goes down hill and WOW do my true feelings emerge!

The Dream.

Piano, my silent

mother,

I can touch you,

you are cool

and smooth

and willing

to stay with me

stay with me

talk to me.

Uncomplaining

you accept

the cover to your keys

and still

you

make room

for all that I

place

there.

We close our eyes

together

and together find that stillness

like a pond

a pond

when the wind is quiet

and the surface

glazes

gazing unblinking

at the blue sky.

I play songs

that have only the pattern

of my self in them

and you hum along

supporting me.

You are the

companion

to myself.

The mirror

with my mother's eyes.


~(Taken from) Out of the Dust,
by Karen Hesse

Beast by Donna Jo Napoli and Rafal Olbinski.

I gasp roughly.

Beast and warrior glow white, burning, against the gold ground.
The sun glints off the illuminated pages as it glints off the metal mar-snake-that twists around and around from my wrist to my elbow. My fists clench; I am aghast at dying, aghast at killing.

And thus begins the story of a Persian prince, who is doomed to become a beast.
I've always loved the story of Beauty and the Beast, and so I pranced upon this book, eagerly.
The story is told in first person, from the view of Orasmyn, a young prince who sets an ancient curse in motion by angering a fairy. Not very smart! He has to leave behind his beloved family in order to escape death at the hands of his unknowing father.
To India and back he travels, across Europe to France, in search redemption and forgiveness. Not knowing that a young French beauty named be Belle would be his redeemer.

I liked this book but I don't think I loved it. I did like the way she worked roses into the story (no I'm not going to tell you) and also learning about Muslim customs and other rituals I would never have learned otherwise! I do know for certain that I was absolutely fascinated by Donna Jo Napoli's way of retelling this classic story, and from a view not many people have ever thought of before!

warning: Some very graphic details.

Hi I'm back! I know you're thinking 'gee Rosie, thanks for deserting us, AGAIN!!" But that's not fair because I really haven't! Its all my computer fault! Anyways these last few weeks have been very busy but oh so much fun. I will update past happenings later, but first here are the four fairy tales I've chosen for the challenge.

Beast by by Donna Jo Napoli and Rafal Olbinski
The Rose Bride by Nancy Holder
Hush: An Irish Princess tale by Donna Jo Napoli
Golden by Cameron Donkey

A review is coming soon.