Nick Burkhardt has a secret. A very big secret. He is a Grimm.
Imagine that the creatures and characters that were presented in the Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm actually existed. That each of those characters, and each of those tales, is real. There is a hidden world that exists within our own every day world. Within this world are creatures, humans, who have the ability to transform into other characters. (Think the Big, Bad, Wolf, 3 Little Pigs, etc.)
Most of these creatures are good, kind people who live and work in the human world without a problem.
Nick is a Grimm. The Grimms of the world run around, killing these fairy tale creatures. However, Nick is a different kind of Grimm. He has a conscience, and he doesn't indiscriminately kill. He enforces the law, and helps the innocent, regardless of which world they live in.
Nick discovers that he is a Grimm in episode 1. Unknown to him, his Aunt is a Grimm. As his Aunt loses her battle with cancer, Nick's Grimm powers begin to show themselves, and he struggles with what he is becoming and how to adapt without telling the other people in his life about what is happening to him.
Throughout the three seasons, the stories and characters wind in and out, and throughout the series, with intriguing stories, and interwoven plot lines that weave back in and out through each show.
NBC just finished broadcasting season 3. Smart, funny, intelligently written, this series is an amazing piece of work. The special effects are fantastic. I am continually amazed by the level of special effects in a weekly television series. It is not what I was expecting.
One last word from me: This series is not for young teenagers (Tweens). I believe that with the level of violence and graphic special effects, it's probably not best for the young ones, or for anyone who has a vivid imagination and is subject to vivid dreams or nightmares. Other than that, it's an awesome show!
Friday, May 23, 2014
The Tinker King
Trent, Tiffany. The Tinker King. 2014. Simon & Schuster, New York, NY.
Hardcover, $17.99. ISBN: 978-1-4424-5759-1.
Book Talk:
New London is a land of waste and ruin following the war. Scienta is on the edge of a wilderness, where a battle between the forces of dark and light is waging, and will engulf everyone who lies in it's path.
Since the last war, Syrus has been working as a Tinker, attempting to continue to run the machines that power the city in which he lives. Empress Olivia struggles as the leader of the new regime, attempting to balance the new world order of equality between humans and elementals.
However, rebellion has reared it's ugly head, and Olivia and Syrus have been thrust into the middle of battle once again.
While on a trip across town, Olivia has been attacked by a Xiren, and her life hangs in the balance, awaiting the intervention of a Master Tinker. In the same battle in which Olivia was captured, Syrus was taken hostage by the Xiren.
Imagine Syrus' horror when he discovers that the Xiren have captured his family and turned them into monster hybrids, a cross between humans and the horrible Xiren/ spider people. They need the expertise of a Master Tinker to help them achieve their goals of taking over and wresting rule away from the Empress.
Nothing, no, nothing, will keep the Xiren from achieving their goal. And they are above nothing in the pursuit of their goals.
Without a Master Tinker, the city is falling apart, and Olivia's life hangs in the balance.
Will Syrus choose death over cooperation with the Xiren?
Can Olivia's life be saved?
Author's Web Site:
http://www.tiffanytrent.com/
Hardcover, $17.99. ISBN: 978-1-4424-5759-1.
Book Talk:New London is a land of waste and ruin following the war. Scienta is on the edge of a wilderness, where a battle between the forces of dark and light is waging, and will engulf everyone who lies in it's path.
Since the last war, Syrus has been working as a Tinker, attempting to continue to run the machines that power the city in which he lives. Empress Olivia struggles as the leader of the new regime, attempting to balance the new world order of equality between humans and elementals.
However, rebellion has reared it's ugly head, and Olivia and Syrus have been thrust into the middle of battle once again.
While on a trip across town, Olivia has been attacked by a Xiren, and her life hangs in the balance, awaiting the intervention of a Master Tinker. In the same battle in which Olivia was captured, Syrus was taken hostage by the Xiren.
Imagine Syrus' horror when he discovers that the Xiren have captured his family and turned them into monster hybrids, a cross between humans and the horrible Xiren/ spider people. They need the expertise of a Master Tinker to help them achieve their goals of taking over and wresting rule away from the Empress.
Nothing, no, nothing, will keep the Xiren from achieving their goal. And they are above nothing in the pursuit of their goals.
Without a Master Tinker, the city is falling apart, and Olivia's life hangs in the balance.
Will Syrus choose death over cooperation with the Xiren?
Can Olivia's life be saved?
Author's Web Site:
http://www.tiffanytrent.com/
Friday, May 16, 2014
Guys Write for Guys Read
Scieszka, Jon. Guys Write for Guys Read. 2005, Viking, New York, NY.
Softcover, $11.99, ISBN: 978-0-670-0144-5.
Book Talk: (Kind Of!)
Guys Read is an initiative begun by Jon Scieszka to encourage boys to read. Getting boys to read any kind of book, at all, has become a challenge. It is a disconcerting challenge, as we know that our boys need to read in order to succeed, and yet, for some reason, we seem to be failing to connect them with meaningful books that encourage them to read more. Guys read was designed to help combat this problem and attempt to find a solution.
This book, Guys Write for Guys Read, was written by many, many male authors who all contributed a short story. I enjoyed the stories. Written for brevity, many of the authors exposed some embarrassing incident from their own childhood. These stories left me at turns, laughing, crying, and touched beyond words that these men would open up so honestly with their audience and let the reader inside their own childhood in such a personal way.
The authors included in this collection read like a who's who of Boy Books: Anthony Horowitz, Walter Dean Myers, Garth Nicks, Dan Gutman, Neil Gaiman, Gary Paulsen, Brian Jaques, Jerry Spinelli, the list goes on and on, with a total of 92 authors contributing a piece to this compilation.
In addition to this book, Guys Read is a website. If you are looking for information on Boy Books, from how to help, to a current list of new releases that just might appeal to the little guy in your life, please visit his website. Mr. Scieszka has done a fantastic job of putting together a website that will guide a parent of a reluctant reader through the mine field of children's literature and connect them directly to the wonderful books that our little guys love to read.
Web Sites:
You can find the Guys Read website here: http://www.guysread.com/
You can find the link to Jon Scieszka's author website here:
http://www.jsworldwide.com/yeah_he_wrote_em.html
Softcover, $11.99, ISBN: 978-0-670-0144-5.Book Talk: (Kind Of!)
Guys Read is an initiative begun by Jon Scieszka to encourage boys to read. Getting boys to read any kind of book, at all, has become a challenge. It is a disconcerting challenge, as we know that our boys need to read in order to succeed, and yet, for some reason, we seem to be failing to connect them with meaningful books that encourage them to read more. Guys read was designed to help combat this problem and attempt to find a solution.
This book, Guys Write for Guys Read, was written by many, many male authors who all contributed a short story. I enjoyed the stories. Written for brevity, many of the authors exposed some embarrassing incident from their own childhood. These stories left me at turns, laughing, crying, and touched beyond words that these men would open up so honestly with their audience and let the reader inside their own childhood in such a personal way.
The authors included in this collection read like a who's who of Boy Books: Anthony Horowitz, Walter Dean Myers, Garth Nicks, Dan Gutman, Neil Gaiman, Gary Paulsen, Brian Jaques, Jerry Spinelli, the list goes on and on, with a total of 92 authors contributing a piece to this compilation.
In addition to this book, Guys Read is a website. If you are looking for information on Boy Books, from how to help, to a current list of new releases that just might appeal to the little guy in your life, please visit his website. Mr. Scieszka has done a fantastic job of putting together a website that will guide a parent of a reluctant reader through the mine field of children's literature and connect them directly to the wonderful books that our little guys love to read.
Web Sites:
You can find the Guys Read website here: http://www.guysread.com/
You can find the link to Jon Scieszka's author website here:
http://www.jsworldwide.com/yeah_he_wrote_em.html
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
A Very Long Silence...
I have switched jobs. I am now working in an academic library. A medical library, no less.
Previously, my job had me reading a lot of YA literature, and I would share what I considered to be the best of the best on here. I enjoyed the reading and the writing, and the thought that maybe I had connected some people with new books immensely.
Getting used to working in an academic library has been an adjustment. Becoming familiar with a very different collection has been an even greater challenge. The best way to become familiar with any library collection is to read through some of the titles, so you know what is where, and can help people find related titles.
This has involved me reading a lot of books. It's been an intriguing challenge. I've learned a lot about some new subjects. After reading through the recommended titles in the nutrition section, I've changed my eating habits and lost 12 pounds so far! Hey! What a nice side effect of a new job!
I am finally comfortable enough with the new collection to go back to the books I love - the Young Adult collection. Unfortunately, since I no longer work in that particular library, the books I pull off of the shelf are the ones that are sitting on the new release shelf in my public library. It can be hit or miss with those books, and again, if I'm going to recommend a book on my blog, I have to have read it, and I have to feel that it has merit, worth, and value. So, we are back once again to a very slow pace of posting books.
I will say this - I did find two gems over this past weekend at the library. I've almost finished the first one. I have laughed, cried, and groaned throughout this book. I can't wait to share it. The second book looks intriguing. I read a few pages out of the middle of the book, and I was sucked into that world, and didn't want to leave it. I'm planning on starting it tomorrow afternoon, along with a cup of tea.
One other big advantage of my new job is that I have a commute, so I can listen to books in the car as I drive. I'm thinking I should be able to post at least one book a week. I have a goal of posting on Fridays.
Previously, my job had me reading a lot of YA literature, and I would share what I considered to be the best of the best on here. I enjoyed the reading and the writing, and the thought that maybe I had connected some people with new books immensely.
Getting used to working in an academic library has been an adjustment. Becoming familiar with a very different collection has been an even greater challenge. The best way to become familiar with any library collection is to read through some of the titles, so you know what is where, and can help people find related titles.
This has involved me reading a lot of books. It's been an intriguing challenge. I've learned a lot about some new subjects. After reading through the recommended titles in the nutrition section, I've changed my eating habits and lost 12 pounds so far! Hey! What a nice side effect of a new job!
I am finally comfortable enough with the new collection to go back to the books I love - the Young Adult collection. Unfortunately, since I no longer work in that particular library, the books I pull off of the shelf are the ones that are sitting on the new release shelf in my public library. It can be hit or miss with those books, and again, if I'm going to recommend a book on my blog, I have to have read it, and I have to feel that it has merit, worth, and value. So, we are back once again to a very slow pace of posting books.
I will say this - I did find two gems over this past weekend at the library. I've almost finished the first one. I have laughed, cried, and groaned throughout this book. I can't wait to share it. The second book looks intriguing. I read a few pages out of the middle of the book, and I was sucked into that world, and didn't want to leave it. I'm planning on starting it tomorrow afternoon, along with a cup of tea.
One other big advantage of my new job is that I have a commute, so I can listen to books in the car as I drive. I'm thinking I should be able to post at least one book a week. I have a goal of posting on Fridays.
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