Request Literary Evaluation of a couple of Books.

[Steve]

---  kemper mentor <kempermentor at ...> wrote:
> > 
> > bboyminn:
> > 
> >...
> > 
> > ...--edit possibly entertaining if light reads--...
> > 
> > I ... finished the Lois Lowry 'Giver' series
> > ['Giver', 'Messenger', 'Gathering Blue'] again a
> > good read, but also again the sense that the author
> > was intentionally trying not to strain the reader
> > brain too much. ... For light reading, I do recommend
> > it, just don't expect to find any real depth to it.
> > 
> > ... --other light suggestions--...
>    
>   Kemper now:
> I have to disagree on the Lowery suggestions. I thought
> they were moving regardless of their reading level. But
> I get what you are saying about light reads.
>   

bboyminn:

Don't get me wrong, I DO Recommend the Lowery's 'Giver' 
series. They have engaging characters and touching 
themes, but overal, I classify them as 'light' reading.

But that is not necessarily a bad thing. I don't regret
buying or reading these books. In a sense, I look at it
as Entertainment Value per dollar spent. These books in
paperback have a US$6.50 cover price (not discount price).
I can't imagine any other means in which you will get 
more value for your $6.50 (or less). For that you can
attend a movie matinee with no popcorn or soft drink,
you can rent a video from the video story, and in either
case you will have about 2 hours entertainment. Read 
the Lowery books and you will have many hours of 
engrossing entertainment, and you will spend them with
appealing engaging characters. Just don't expect an
deep complex story. A touching story, an interesting
story, just not very deep. 
 
> >...
> > > 
> > 
> > bboyminn replied:
> > 
> > You realize that there are 9 books in this series. 
> > There are 4 books in the 'Enders Game' saga. Four 
> > books in the 'Enders Shadow' saga.  ... I recommend
> > them all.
> 
> Kemper now:
> I know.  But I liked how Ender's Shadow ended.  It was
> hopeful. I want to imagine a Bean who lived happily 
> ever after with his new found family.  I know; it's 
> lame of me.
> 

bboyminn:

I can't say the the continuation of the Bean/Shadow
Series is not dark. But Bean's true happiness does
not come from his own family (brother, father, mother)
but from a family of his own. Bean meet and falls in
love with a woman that is his equal. I feel safe in
telling you that because it begins to appear fairly
early in the story. 

You know of Bean's 'affliction', and that plus world
trumoil and characters from Beans past are the heart of
the darkness of the story, but as mentioned above, the 
story does bring some meaning and satisfaction to Bean's
life. I won't tell you more but to say the continuation 
is a very touching and extremely intriguing story. 

For the record, two more books are planned in the
Series. One is a sort of Bean meets Ender in the future
and the other is Ender meet a nemesis that is developed
in the Bean series. Again, since you haven't read both
series, I'll spare you the details.

Both Series while having very intriguing plots, I would
classify as 'character driven' books. I care about these
characters, and therefore I care about what happens to 
them. Though what does happen to them is also immensely
interesting.

I gave my nephew (age 11) 'Enders Game' and 'Enders 
Shadow' for Christmas, I really hope he reads them. I 
can't imagine how he could not. As extra incentive, I
said I would give him a reward if he read to the end
of Chapt 3. I figured that would be enough to get him
hooked on the story. Then at the end of each Chapt 3
I put $5.00. I'm sure he will appreciate it.

   

>   Kemper now:
>   I agree.  The simplified books should be relabeled 
> Older Child, but that would give children a bad rep.  
> What about Highlights Adult?  Or... what was the 'bad 
> reader' color in the SRA reading card? How 'bout: the 
> SRA DumbDumb Color Reader?
>    
>   Kemper, who hated the SRA's

bboyminn:

Sorry...? SRA? Not familiar with that term.

Steve/bboyminn