This was a draft post that I never finished. It's not a total review (it's missing the numbers, for one thing) but I figure I might as well post it.
What Mrs. McGillicuddy Saw! by Agatha Christie details the investigation that follows Mrs. McGillicuddy seeing a woman being strangled in a passing train. Though the body is not found, Miss Marple is convinced that the murder actually happened and enlists Lucy Eyelesbarrow to serve at a certain house where the body may be found. Lucy actually finds the body, and the case that follows baffles the police and everyone concerned - except Miss Marple.
Lucy Eyelesbarrow is an practical, efficient girl, though lacking in Miss Marple's particular mental abilities. Her trust in Miss Marple's good judgement is magnified through the book, first when she finds the body and second when Miss Marple actually solves the mystery. She could be considered eccentric when she turns down a steady position for this more exciting and definitely more dangerous position, given that someone has been killed, and the murderer could kill again.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Simon Bloom, Gravity Keeper
Simon Bloom, The Gravity Keeper by Michael Reisman details the life of Simon Bloom, who finds an amazing Teacher's Edition of Physics which allows him to control some parts of physics. He has to protect the Teacher's Edition from falling into the wrong hands - but who are the wrong hands?
This book breaks the fourth wall by having an actual character called the Narrator. The characters visit the Narrator and watch their story play out in real time. I found this fascinating. Not many stories that I've read have pulled this off. In fact . . . I think the only other story which has broken the fourth wall is the sequel to this book, Simon Bloom: The Octopus Effect.
Stars: 8
Violence: 8. As the kids fight using physics formulae, there is quite a lot of slamming people with cars, melting asphalt, setting clothes on fire, and slightly nauseous flying. It's not graphic (no gaping wounds or anything) but with a sufficiently active imagination, this book could be quite disturbing. Alternatively, it could be full of cool fight scenes. It isn't really . . . after a while the ordinary fights get monotonous, even with all the action.
Romance: 0. It's a kids' book.
Language: I don't remember any serious breaches of propriety as to the language . . . I think it should be fine.
Appropriate for: older kids