A Few Thoughts: Classifying Dragons

 
Once They All Believed In Dragons

Once they all believed in dragons

When the world was fresh and young, 

We were woven into legends, 

Tales were told and songs were sung, 

We were treated with obeisance, 

We were honored, we were feared, 

Then one day they stopped believing--

On that day, we disappeared. 

Now they say our time is over, 

Now they say we've lived our last, 

Now we're treated with derision

Where once we ruled unsurpassed. 

We must make them all remember, 

In some way we must reveal

That our spirit lives forever--

We are dragons! We are real!

~ © Jack Prelutsky

website: Jack Prelutsky

I was drawn to this poem the moment I heard it simply because I love dragons. There are so many different and interesting portrayals of dragons in literature and I wanted to share some of my favorites with you.

 
The Good--Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede: 

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia Wrede tells the story of Princess Cimorene who is a truly unusual princess. She takes no pleasure in "proper pursuits" so she runs away and befriends Kazul, an equally unusual dragon. Kazul is a good dragon, morally speaking. She treats Cimorene with kindness and entrusts important tasks to her. Kazul works to keep the Enchanted Forest safe from the wizards and their cohorts who seek to use the power of the forest for personal gain.

The Undefined--The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

Gail Carson Levine's The Two Princesses of Bamarre is a world inhabited by many magical creatures. There are gryphons, specters, ogres, and dragons. We meet the dragon, Vollys, when she captures our heroine, Princess Addie. Vollys seeks entertainment; as long as Addie keeps her entertained, Addie lives.  Vollys is indefinable morally because she plays by her own rules. She seeks entertainment and rewards Addie for providing it, however, she openly admits that she will eat Addie one day. In Vollys words, "Believe me when I say I want you to stay a long time with me. I am sad when I am alone. My unhappiest hours are after I have destroyed a guest. I have never forgotten any of you."  Vollys mourns the deaths of her "guests" despite the fact that she brings about their demise.  She truly follows a unique moral compass.   

 

I wanted to do a section highlighting an evil dragon, however, I am having a difficult time thinking of one who is purely evil. Vollys isn't purely evil because we understand why she does the things she does. Levine explains Vollys' thought process and in so doing gives her a unique set of morals, they do not echo human morals, but they are there all the same.

So what about dragons whose thoughts we're not privy to? I thought of the dragons in Harry Potter.  Are they evil?s

The Animalistic--The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

I would argue that the dragons in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter are not evil, they are simply animals. Take the Hungarian Horntail featured in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  She breathes fire at Harry and slices his arm with the horns on her tail. Any animal would do the same if a human was threatening her young, as Harry was doing at the time. In this world, dragons are not portrayed as sentient and so they cannot be labeled as moral or immoral. They are simply animals, following their instincts.

Will I find an evil dragon? I'll keep looking and I'll continue collecting my favorite dragons.

Pair It With: Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things

Max's parents are actors who own a theater troupe. They get an invitation to come to India, and, as they are leaving, something goes wrong, and Max is left behind. Along with his grandmother, Max seeks his parents while trying to remain independent. Good at solving problems, Max begins earning a living as a hired problem-solver. What I liked: I really enjoyed how everything came together. I liked how all the people that Max meets are somehow connected even though they don't know it. I like how Max dubs himself a Solutioneer. I liked the costumes and how Max was a theater person deep down. What I didn't like: All this talk of independence. Max is only 12, and he just didn't feel 12. At all. This was my first book by the accomplished Cynthia Voigt, and, if I wanted to be wowed, I probably shouldn't have started with this book. The Book of Lost Things is fun, but not jaw-dropping. The Book of Lost Things is out September 10, 2013. 

The Book of Lost Things has something of  A Series of Unfortunate Events feel, in it's time and place and capers. I think Mister Max will appeal to fans of this beloved series. Nathan and I read A Series of Unfortunate Events together years ago, so it is full of good memories for me. The books can be repetitive, but they are full of funny repetitions, like Count Olaf's awful disguises (We love Dectective Dupin the most), and laugh (I love Count Olaf's long laugh in book 11 and then his short "HA" in book 12). I also love how the kids always, always know that it's Count Olaf in disguise. I love how each of the children, whether Baudelaire, Quagmire, or Fiona, have a talent that is their passion. Ultimately, I think what makes these books work, is that despite all the horrible things that happen to the Baudelaire children, they always stick together. They never turn on one another, and they are always there for each other. That is why we can read 13 books about their Unfortunate Events. 

 

New Books by Beloved Authors: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves is the sequel to Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys. Set in a sleepy southern Virginia town, The Dream Thieves, explores Ronan's secrets. 

For me Maggie Stiefvater has not made a misstep yet. Nearly everything about her writing and her books is just perfect. Stiefvater always creates a rich, atmospheric setting. It almost leaps from the page. In The Dream Thieves, the town of Henrietta is almost as much of a character as the characters themselves. And speaking of characters, I love these Raven Boys, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, Noah. And I am blown-away with how well Stiefvater describes a tight-knit group of boys. Another thing to love about this book: 300 Fox Way. That house of psychics, Maura, Orla, Calla, Persephone, makes me so happy. Happy because there are some adults in the story, and they are even semi-responsible (yeah!), and they play a big role in action. Blue continues to be a rock. She's not quite as dominant in this book as she was in The Raven Boys, but there are some heartbreaking moments with Gansey. The Grey Man even turns out to be a surprising favorite. The Dream Thieves is predominantly Ronan's tale, and somehow, with Ronan, Stiefvater has crafted a character that is tough and vulnerable all at once.

I love a great, original concept, and The Dream Thieves has it. The supernatural elements in this story--Ronan's big secret, Adam as eyes and hands of Cabeswater--will not disappoint. I can't not mention Stiefvater's writing. It is gorgeous as always. I'm really enjoying her foray into the third person. Stiefvater's books are almost impossible to read quickly because the language is just too beautiful to rush. Stiefvater has mentioned that The Dream Thieves was a difficult book to write, and I believe it. It's a puzzle that has to come together perfectly, but I think she pulled it off splendidly.

The only thing that I wish I could change about this book is when I read it. The book is set in the hot, steamy days leading up to the 4th of July. How wonderful it would have been to pair this book with the summer stickiness.

The Dream Thieves is out September 17th, 2013.

Have a Listen: Audiobooks We Love

I am a longtime lover of audiobooks. When we were kids, Paige and I shared a room, and we used to drift off to sleep at night listening to our favorite books on tape. This is a habit that became so ingrained that, although we no longer live in the same state, much less the same bedroom, we both still love to listen to a book at bedtime. Paige and I also liked to pick out a couple of audiobooks for our drives home from college. While working on my PhD, I listened to a lot of audiobooks during my 50 minute commute to the University of Kansas. Now I love an audiobook to help me through my less exciting chores or a session at the gym.

Here are ten fabulous audiobooks:

Anansi Boys by Neil Gaimon. Nathan and I listened to this books years ago. Years. And we are still talking about it and quoting it.

At Home by Bill Bryson. This "short history of private life" is really a short history of basically everything. At Home was all I could talk about for weeks. It's also narrated by the author, which is almost always a treat.

Austenland by Shannon Hale. My impression of this book is that it has Shannon's (I've met her in person, so sure, we are on a first name basis) sense of humor all over it. I could imagine her snickering as she wrote it. I snickered while I read it.The movie is out in theaters now in select cities.

The Beka Cooper Books by Tamora Pierce. I have listened to all of Tamora Pierce's novels. Yes, all. That's 29 books, folks and these are my favorites of the lot. I love, love, love the language in the Beka Cooper books, and Susan Denaker's narration really brings it to life.

The Curse Worker Books by Holly Black. There are quite a few series that I will wait to read until I can get my hands on the audio version. Jesse Eisenberg narrates this series, and I think he really nails Cassel.

The Heir Chronicles by Cinda Williams Chima. These books are exciting, as in maybe not the best for bedtime listening because you won't be able stop listening and go to sleep.

The Lost Painting by Jonathan Harr. I know I am an art history nerd, but I found this book about the rediscovery of a lost Caravaggio incredible suspenseful even though almost all the big discoveries were unearthed in archives (tedious work). This is one that I passed along to my husband and sister.

The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper. Here's a series I've been recommending to everyone. These books are great historical fiction and fabulous choices if you want to read about the 1930s, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II. I was so sad that the third book wasn't recorded.

The Thursday Next Books by Jasper Fforde. Clearly I love Jasper Fforde. This is another series that I always read in audio format. It's also one that Nathan and I like to listen to together. We just love Thursday.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand. This audiobook got us through the drive from Maryland to Alabama and back. Nathan and I were absolutely riveted, and I had already read the book. It seems like basically everyone has already read this or thought about reading this, and, if you are in the latter category, might I suggest the audio version?

Pair it With: When the World Was Flat (And We Were in Love)

When The World Was Flat (And We Were in Love) starts out a little slow. And it's full of those young adult tropes I'm getting a little tired of: mysterious new guy, strange, sudden connection, visionary dreams, stereotypical friends, small town, absentee mother. So the test became whether or not Ingrid Jonach's debut young adult novel could impress me despite all of that. I stuck with the book because I had this feeling that the pay off was going to be worth it. When the secrets--inspired by Albert Einstein's theories--began to be revealed the book got much more exciting and suddenly had enough that was unlike what I'd read before to be enjoyable and thought provoking. There were a couple of reversals that I was not expecting. I did have some serious issues with Lillie's friends, especially Sylv whose crassness is completely unnecessary. Lillie's mom, however, stepped it up and turned out to be more conscientious parent than I expected. Lillie and Tom aren't destine to become two of my favorite characters of all time, but I liked them well enough.What made the book worth reading, for me, were the fantastical elements. When the World Was Flat is out September 3, 2013.

Stacey Jay invented such an interesting premise for her novel Juliet Immortal. I shall try and do it justice in a few words. In Verona all those years ago, Romeo killed Juliet in order to gain eternal life. In the hundreds of years that followed, Romeo and Juliet have been fighting one another, returning to earth again and again to either destroy true love (in Romeo's case) or protect it (in Juliet's). They are each part of a larger organizations of which they understand very little. When the novel begins they are once again at odds, but this time there seem to be higher stakes involved. Juliet Immortal is pretty out there, but I really enjoyed it. The enmity that Juliet feels for Romeo is so palpable, but she is not beyond redemption. She still believes in love, and this could be her second chance. Romeo, on the other hand, was so repulsive at times as his borrowed body began to fall apart. In turns creepy and sweet, I found Juliet Immortal hard to put down.

Reading on a Theme: Russia and YA

This Reading on a Theme came about by pure chance. On my nightstand sat a copy of Shadow and Bone. On my e-reader sat a copy of Between Shades of Gray. Then I received review copies of two other Russia-themed young adult novels. I read them all in a row and they were richer and more enjoyable because of it.

The Siberian Work Camp:
 I had heard all kinds of praise for Ruta Sepetys's debut novel, and it received a long list of awards. In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina, along with her mother and younger brother, is taken from her home in Lithuania and sent to a Siberian work camp. This book deserves its awards. It is well-written, gripping, and sad. Ruta Sepetys took her inspiration for this book from her own family history. It tells of a time and a place in history that definitely deserves a story.

The Cold War: 
 In 1982 college student Laura Reid goes to Leningrad with a study abroad program. She meets Alexei there. As Laura gets more and more involved with Alexei the stakes get higher, and although Laura loves Alexei she's not sure his motives are pure. Natalie Standiford is from Baltimore. I love a hometown author, and I really enjoyed Confessions of the Sullivan Sisters, which is why I wanted to read The Boy on the Bridge. I liked this book more than I thought I would. It is not your typical fairytale romance. I, like Laura, was not at all sure of Alexei's intentions. The professor/ type-A student in me cringes at how seemingly uninvested Laura is in her studies, but I can shove that aside. My advice if you want to read this book: DO NOT READ THE SUMMARY. The Boy on the Bridge is out on July 30th, 2013.

                                   
Russian Fugitive in America:
As luck would have it, Elizabeth Kiem's new novel also takes place in 1982-1983. 17-year-old ballerina Marina Dukovskaya is an up and coming ballerina in Moscow. Her mother, Svetlana Dukovskaya is one of Russia's prima donnas, and although past her prime, she is still very much in the spotlight. But one day Sveta disappears, and Marina and her father must flee to America.  Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy has a terrific premise. There are a lot of things to love about this book! However, I wanted more of almost everything. More dancing. More intrigue. More character development. And, if we are going to have it at all, more of the supernatural. However, Kiem really made me believe that Marina was not an American girl recast as a Russian, but a real Russian fugitive. I love that cover. Dancer, Daughter, Traitor, Spy is out August 13th, 2013. More opinions at Red Letter Reads.


The Fantasy: 
I quite liked this fantasy with a Russian flare. Leigh Bardugo introduces readers to Ravka. A country divided by the Shadow Fold, a swath of darkness where no light can penetrate inhabited by horrific monsters. Those trained in magic, the Grisha, help fight the Shadow Fold and Ravka's enemies. There were several reversals in this story that I was not expecting at all. I liked how Bardugo set up an extreme contrast between the Royal and Grisha palaces and the common folk. This book also has a fair amount of court intrigue. What made this book even more of a pleasure to read is how beautiful the book itself is with its map and decorative illustrations. The sequel to Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, is out now.

The Paranormal:
Imperial Russia with vampires, werewolves, zombies, witches, fairies, and necromancers, The Gathering Storm is kind of crazy. Seriously, this world has a lot going on. A few times I started to wonder if it was too out there, but, seeing as I was enjoying the story, I kept deciding no. I love alternate histories, and I thought that Robin Bridges did a fabulous job weaving the supernatural into the history of Russia. Also, this book really kept me guessing. I really wasn't sure who to trust. Katerina is a worthy main character, although at times her inner monologue did get a little repetitive. I quite liked Grand Duke George Alexandrovich and the rest of the royal family. The Unfailing Light was published in 2012 and the final volume of the trilogy, The Morning Star, is out August 27th, 2013.
 

Most Read Authors: Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde is currently number two on my most-read-author's list. I am a huge fan, as in I have read all of his novels; I recommend his books to friends, neighbors, and semi-acquaintances, and Jasper Fforde is way, way up there on my authors-I-want-to-meet-in-person list. (And he has a really cool name, too.)

I read my first Jasper Fforde book in 2006. I started with The Eyre Affair, the first of Fforde's Thursday Next books, and rocketed through the first four books in the series. Even better, my husband loved these books too, and we listened to them together on road trips. I highly recommend the audio version. 

Here's the thing about Jasper Fforde's novels: they are so quirky and insanely creative. Check out the premise for his dystopia Shades of Grey:

Eddie Russett lives some 200 years or so after the Something That Happened. The world is now run by a Colortocracy. Those who can see colors are known as Chromatics. One's social status is determined by what color you can see and how well you perceive it. Violets rule. Red is the lowest of the Chromatics, but being a Grey is worse. Greys live at the bottom of the totem pole and do all the grunt work. Eddie is Red, and a high perceiving Red at that, though he's yet to take the test that will determine his perception percentage. He's shipped off to a small town to do a chair census. There he meets Jane, a Grey, and starts to question everything. 

Pretty wild, but the beauty of all of Fforde's books are all the little details. In Shades of Grey we have (to mention a few) swan attacks, marriage negotiations, healing with colors, the spoon shortage, Apocryphals.

Fforde's newest series is also his first Young Adult series. The Last Dragonslayer is the story of Jennifer Strange, foundling and acting manager of the magic corporation Kazam, of the Kingdom of Hereford in the Ununited Kingdoms. Bordering Hereford are the dragonlands, and there is one dragon left, but pre-cogs (those who can see the future) begin having visions that the last dragon will die on Sunday.

The Last Dragonslayer is chalked full of magic and dragons, but they are magic and dragons as only Jasper Fforde can craft, which means kooky, funny, and wholly original. The wizards have been reduced to using their magic to do things like rewire houses. The wizards all all hilarious, from their self-given titles, to their areas of expertise. Jennifer Strange is a strong character who, like Fforde's Thursday Next, has more jobs than any one person should. The Quarkbeast is just about the most awesome pet ever, and I quite liked Tiger as well.

I was absolutely giddy when I received a review copy of the second in the series, The Song of the Quarkbeast, due for release in the U.S. on September 3, 2013. In this installment, the wizidrical levels are on the rise, and Jennifer Strange is busier than ever running Kazam Mystical Arts Management. She's up against those who are more interested in exploiting the magical arts for financial gain than they are in upholding the noble magical tradition.

I love how Fforde upends our expectations for the fantasy genre in these novels--Jennifer Strange can't do magic, magicians use their magic for rather mundane tasks. Fforde's genre-mixing is always invigorating. I really enjoyed how this book spent more time with the wizards of Kazam. Full Price, Half Price, Cadet Perkins Perkins, Lady Mawgon, Wizard Moobin, The Transient Moose, The Once Magnificent Boo: even their names are funny. Their quirky personalities are one of my favorite things about this series. I grinned the whole way through this book. 

Twelves books by Jasper Fforde, and I would gladly read more.