*laughs* Still MORE reviews!
Nov. 25th, 2003 04:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
conuly
This is fun. Silly, and stupid, but fun...
The Great Gilly Hopkins
The references to adultery in the part about Gilly disliking church was equally appalling. Luckily I was reading at the time and quickly skipped past as this part really isn't relevant to the crux of the story anyway.
*stares and laughs* She doesn't define it! All she says is that it is annoying when people quiz you on the 10 commandments, and then refuse to define adultery! Which it is! But I guess you wouldn't want your children to understand the Bible...
I thought it would have a happy ending but it was disappointing.
Yes, because all stories must have happy endings. *rolls her eyes again*
Bridge to Terebithia
I wish I could give this book no stars! I was shocked at the profanity in God's name and even the profanity not in God's name since this is a fifth-graders book.
Because, we all know, children never, EVER say bad words. Especially not fifth graders, they're too young.
There is overuse of the word "damn." Why are adjectives like this needed when there are others for kids? Kids learn enough bad things from the world around them. Why do we need to open them to it in books used by many schoolteachers? There are some witchcraft terms and ideas, although these could be construed as a child's imagination
Construed? It *is* a child's imagination! And damn, what's wrong with the word damn? Is that one of those words that can only be used literally now?
Back to the less young books, as I don't remember most of them... but still in the kid's section (most interesting comments, nobody reads an adult book and complains that it corrupts the youth of America?
Holes
omg! this is just about this worst book in the world! i hated it so much it took forever (i had to read it for school) to get through! I strongly advise you to snap your hand away from that (computer) mouse and go read something else...ANYthing else. its not even worth one star. ok, later!
What did she say?
There are too many other well-written books out there to settle for this kind of traumatic read. Just because a book is "well-written" does not make it a worthwhile to read. I will be going in for a parent-teacher conference tomorrow and I will sharing my perceptions of this book with the teacher.
Traumatic? It's a BOOK. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. Well. Unless it was thrown....
Being a fan of jail break stories, the book sounded pretty good.
Boy, was I wrong about that.
The story was totally unbeliveable, is over done, and makes no scence at all. I should have thought more about what I was getting into. I could see where a little kid would like this, or someone who dose not think about the realism of what there reading. This book had lots of holes in it.
Oh look! A pun! I don't think Holes was supposed to be very believable, so! Moving on....
I cannot believe this trash is marketed to 9 to 12 year olds. To let my 81/2 year old read about lynchings and teachers shooting sheriffs in the head is a bit much for his young mind. Once again the only heroes in the story are either women or black men. All the bad, lazy, drunken, no-good characters are white males - like my son.
The warden. She's female... she must be a hero! Stanley. He's a white male. He must be evil! Now, normally, that would be a good point, but... no. It's not.
If you want a good book, don't choose Holes by Louis Sacher. This book stinks. Cops have to know about what they do there. It's in the middle of a desert, people are going to wonder what they're doing there since there's no lake or grass. Also, how are the kids' moms going to send mail to them, and how do they send out mail without a mailman coming to get the mail? Fate plays too much of a big role in this book.
Duh. There's a mail carrier. Duh. Abusive situations like this happen all the time. Usually not on this scale, but....
So that left Sachar's "Holes" I decided to look it up on Amazon and read some reviews. I read one by a mother who's third and fifth grade aged children had enjoyed this book. That proved my suspicion that "Holes" would be nothing more than a sugar coated CHILDREN'S book.
Well. Aside from the fact that I see no real distinction between children's books and the rest of literature (if the children's book in question IS literature, if not, it's children's books and the rest of pulp fiction)... Holes? Sugar coated? I think not.
We didn't get why this was an award winner. Very depressing and not at all funny. Don't waste your time when there are so many other good books to read!
Because awards don't only go to funny books? Because awards go to books that make you think, regardless of how depressing they are (not that I found holes depressing, but...)
my teacher made made me red this book and right a raport. I no like because reding is hard
*sighs* Can people stop making their kids put their bookreports on amazon? It's annoying.
I do not know why I am typing this eather and I have not read this book
Gah. Help?
I long suspect that awards such as Oscars, Emmys, and Newburys, are given to authors for the span of their career and not always the work that is being honored. If that is the case, Louis Sachar is long deserving of this wonderful recognition. However, I wished he had won the award for one of his brilliant, off the wall "Wayside School" novels.
That is actually a very good point, no mocking. However... not for wayside school books, they're funny, but not really award-worthy, are they?
This is an OK book, but the book about Harry Potter, a leading member of our community here at Hogwarts, is much better. Buy Harry Potter! He needs to get rich! RICH! RICHRICH!
Kill. KILL.
Well, I, an adult reader, picked it up since it won the Newbery, and I can't imagine why. It's far too contrived and unbelievable to be taken as worthy. Honestly, the last name of Yelnats just to make a palindrome. And coincidence is packed on top of coincidence, descendant after descendant showing up in the story, it's just far too much for an adult to stomach. *Burp!*
Am I the only who gets it? It's *supposed* to be unbelievable!
Anything by Roald Dahl
That real Witches are deceiving? That they hate children? This book shows exactly the ignorance of society and how that ignorance breeds ignorance. If you are going to teach your children about real Witches, then why don't you find books that do instead of letting them read tales such as this. Would your child like a book about how Christians or Hindus or Buddhists or Druids are child-hating, deceiving people? I think not. Children are impressionable and it is up to you to show tolerance rather than ignorance. Educate yourself.
Good point, but I think you're overreacting. Why don't you criticize fairy tales first, go chronologically? Now, normally, of course, I'd defend her, but as witches CHOSE THAT NAME, and AFTER the stereotype was well established, they have only themselves to blame when they get offended at its more common use.
This book is a horrid misrepresentation of Paganism and women in general. It is clear that the author is writing from a point of view of ignorance and hate. It promotes stereotypes and the hatred that results from his uneducated opinion. No matter what your views on Paganism might be, this book also celebrates misogyny. Children are prompted to be suspicious and distrustful of their female teachers and even their mothers. This is a loathesome way for the author to sell his uninformed opinions to the public - through children.
Another party heard from. Nobody is taught to be distrustful of their mother. And nobody is talking about Pagans. If you choose a name for your religion, make sure it doesn't already have a negative connotation. No, sorry, denotation.
As a representative of the Neo-Pagan community I do not find this funny. Should I? Would any Witch wish for their children to read this? I don't think so. To get some idea of how offensive this is to a modern Wiccan/Pagan substitute the word Jew or Jews for Witch and Witches and then imagine that you are Jewish.
I'm writing my own review. Seriously.
This book is a horrifying social commentary on the opinions of people about real witches.
If you want to know the truth about REAL witches, I suggest reading "The Truth About Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham.
...
brb....
The Great Gilly Hopkins
The references to adultery in the part about Gilly disliking church was equally appalling. Luckily I was reading at the time and quickly skipped past as this part really isn't relevant to the crux of the story anyway.
*stares and laughs* She doesn't define it! All she says is that it is annoying when people quiz you on the 10 commandments, and then refuse to define adultery! Which it is! But I guess you wouldn't want your children to understand the Bible...
I thought it would have a happy ending but it was disappointing.
Yes, because all stories must have happy endings. *rolls her eyes again*
Bridge to Terebithia
I wish I could give this book no stars! I was shocked at the profanity in God's name and even the profanity not in God's name since this is a fifth-graders book.
Because, we all know, children never, EVER say bad words. Especially not fifth graders, they're too young.
There is overuse of the word "damn." Why are adjectives like this needed when there are others for kids? Kids learn enough bad things from the world around them. Why do we need to open them to it in books used by many schoolteachers? There are some witchcraft terms and ideas, although these could be construed as a child's imagination
Construed? It *is* a child's imagination! And damn, what's wrong with the word damn? Is that one of those words that can only be used literally now?
Back to the less young books, as I don't remember most of them... but still in the kid's section (most interesting comments, nobody reads an adult book and complains that it corrupts the youth of America?
Holes
omg! this is just about this worst book in the world! i hated it so much it took forever (i had to read it for school) to get through! I strongly advise you to snap your hand away from that (computer) mouse and go read something else...ANYthing else. its not even worth one star. ok, later!
What did she say?
There are too many other well-written books out there to settle for this kind of traumatic read. Just because a book is "well-written" does not make it a worthwhile to read. I will be going in for a parent-teacher conference tomorrow and I will sharing my perceptions of this book with the teacher.
Traumatic? It's a BOOK. Nobody was ever hurt by a book. Well. Unless it was thrown....
Being a fan of jail break stories, the book sounded pretty good.
Boy, was I wrong about that.
The story was totally unbeliveable, is over done, and makes no scence at all. I should have thought more about what I was getting into. I could see where a little kid would like this, or someone who dose not think about the realism of what there reading. This book had lots of holes in it.
Oh look! A pun! I don't think Holes was supposed to be very believable, so! Moving on....
I cannot believe this trash is marketed to 9 to 12 year olds. To let my 81/2 year old read about lynchings and teachers shooting sheriffs in the head is a bit much for his young mind. Once again the only heroes in the story are either women or black men. All the bad, lazy, drunken, no-good characters are white males - like my son.
The warden. She's female... she must be a hero! Stanley. He's a white male. He must be evil! Now, normally, that would be a good point, but... no. It's not.
If you want a good book, don't choose Holes by Louis Sacher. This book stinks. Cops have to know about what they do there. It's in the middle of a desert, people are going to wonder what they're doing there since there's no lake or grass. Also, how are the kids' moms going to send mail to them, and how do they send out mail without a mailman coming to get the mail? Fate plays too much of a big role in this book.
Duh. There's a mail carrier. Duh. Abusive situations like this happen all the time. Usually not on this scale, but....
So that left Sachar's "Holes" I decided to look it up on Amazon and read some reviews. I read one by a mother who's third and fifth grade aged children had enjoyed this book. That proved my suspicion that "Holes" would be nothing more than a sugar coated CHILDREN'S book.
Well. Aside from the fact that I see no real distinction between children's books and the rest of literature (if the children's book in question IS literature, if not, it's children's books and the rest of pulp fiction)... Holes? Sugar coated? I think not.
We didn't get why this was an award winner. Very depressing and not at all funny. Don't waste your time when there are so many other good books to read!
Because awards don't only go to funny books? Because awards go to books that make you think, regardless of how depressing they are (not that I found holes depressing, but...)
my teacher made made me red this book and right a raport. I no like because reding is hard
*sighs* Can people stop making their kids put their bookreports on amazon? It's annoying.
I do not know why I am typing this eather and I have not read this book
Gah. Help?
I long suspect that awards such as Oscars, Emmys, and Newburys, are given to authors for the span of their career and not always the work that is being honored. If that is the case, Louis Sachar is long deserving of this wonderful recognition. However, I wished he had won the award for one of his brilliant, off the wall "Wayside School" novels.
That is actually a very good point, no mocking. However... not for wayside school books, they're funny, but not really award-worthy, are they?
This is an OK book, but the book about Harry Potter, a leading member of our community here at Hogwarts, is much better. Buy Harry Potter! He needs to get rich! RICH! RICHRICH!
Kill. KILL.
Well, I, an adult reader, picked it up since it won the Newbery, and I can't imagine why. It's far too contrived and unbelievable to be taken as worthy. Honestly, the last name of Yelnats just to make a palindrome. And coincidence is packed on top of coincidence, descendant after descendant showing up in the story, it's just far too much for an adult to stomach. *Burp!*
Am I the only who gets it? It's *supposed* to be unbelievable!
Anything by Roald Dahl
That real Witches are deceiving? That they hate children? This book shows exactly the ignorance of society and how that ignorance breeds ignorance. If you are going to teach your children about real Witches, then why don't you find books that do instead of letting them read tales such as this. Would your child like a book about how Christians or Hindus or Buddhists or Druids are child-hating, deceiving people? I think not. Children are impressionable and it is up to you to show tolerance rather than ignorance. Educate yourself.
Good point, but I think you're overreacting. Why don't you criticize fairy tales first, go chronologically? Now, normally, of course, I'd defend her, but as witches CHOSE THAT NAME, and AFTER the stereotype was well established, they have only themselves to blame when they get offended at its more common use.
This book is a horrid misrepresentation of Paganism and women in general. It is clear that the author is writing from a point of view of ignorance and hate. It promotes stereotypes and the hatred that results from his uneducated opinion. No matter what your views on Paganism might be, this book also celebrates misogyny. Children are prompted to be suspicious and distrustful of their female teachers and even their mothers. This is a loathesome way for the author to sell his uninformed opinions to the public - through children.
Another party heard from. Nobody is taught to be distrustful of their mother. And nobody is talking about Pagans. If you choose a name for your religion, make sure it doesn't already have a negative connotation. No, sorry, denotation.
As a representative of the Neo-Pagan community I do not find this funny. Should I? Would any Witch wish for their children to read this? I don't think so. To get some idea of how offensive this is to a modern Wiccan/Pagan substitute the word Jew or Jews for Witch and Witches and then imagine that you are Jewish.
I'm writing my own review. Seriously.
This book is a horrifying social commentary on the opinions of people about real witches.
If you want to know the truth about REAL witches, I suggest reading "The Truth About Witchcraft Today" by Scott Cunningham.
...
brb....
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:45 pm (UTC)I wanna see your review!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 03:28 pm (UTC)When I'm reading a book and there's witches in it, I only assume they're talking about REAL witches if they SAY so--otherwise, I assume that they're talking about the age-old stereotypical evil witch type person...makes for a lot less stress that way. ::mutters at stupid people::
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 03:59 pm (UTC)I whacked Gilles and Jeff with "Germinal", once.
Oh, the human stupidity.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:45 pm (UTC)I wanna see your review!
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 02:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 03:28 pm (UTC)When I'm reading a book and there's witches in it, I only assume they're talking about REAL witches if they SAY so--otherwise, I assume that they're talking about the age-old stereotypical evil witch type person...makes for a lot less stress that way. ::mutters at stupid people::
no subject
Date: 2003-11-25 03:59 pm (UTC)I whacked Gilles and Jeff with "Germinal", once.
Oh, the human stupidity.