ME AND JULIET -- Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, II

Random House -- hc
New York -- ©1953 -- 142pp
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number : 53-10704

A story of romance backstage of a Broadway musical.

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It should tell you something that I had never heard of this musical until coming across an old lp and then, more recently, spotting this book in a library. A musical by the same team that created, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, The Sound of Music, State Fair, and others. What it should tell you is that this isn't one of the better collaborations.

It's a pretty dull story, and a paper-thin plot. Boy likes girl, girl is seeing other boy.

What supposedly makes this unique is the staging of it. Per the description of the set, we see a portion of what is happening on stage as well as what is happening off stage. One of the major characters also happens to be a crew person, up in the fly loft. The sub plot of the conductor staying on because of an admirer in the audience falls flat -- is virtually ignored once it is first mentioned, until the very end.

In some cases, the music helps a weak book. In this case, it does not.

There's good reason to have never heard of this show, and I'm certainly not enriched by having now read and listened to it

BIRD -- Rita Murphy

Delacorte Press -- hc

New York -- 2008 -- 150pp

ISBN: 978-0-385-73018-1

A young girl, deposited by the wind on the doorsteps of a sad and lonely house, looks to the wind to take her away to her freedom.

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There is something very appealing about this book -- partly it's Rita Murphy's writing style, partly it's the just slightly off-kilter characters and story (aptly depicted by the artist of the hardcover version). But at the same time, there's something definitely lacking here. There was no sense of accomplishment; no big "hurrah" for the young girl at the end, and that says to me that we didn't care for her enough.

I've been talking to my theatre class about 'dramatic conflict' and while I know the difference between a book and theatre, even a book needs to have some conflict (an obstacle). Here is where the focus gets a bit muddy. Is the obstacle in the girl's way the house itself? Wisteria (her guardian)? The legend of the missing fortune? Of herself? It's a little bit of all of them, which is why it isn't as clean as it could be.

The story of the missing fortune is not really necessary. It's a subplot that doesn't really go anywhere.

An interesting book that reached for more but didn't quite get there.

GREEN LANTERN: SLEEPERS - BOOK TWO -- Christopher J. Priest & Michael Ahn

iBooks, Inc. -- pb
©2005 -- 304pp
ISBN: 1596871350 (isbn13: 9781596871359)

Alan Scott enters World War II to fight a 17th-century supervillain named Malvolio, an anti-Green Lantern who wants to take over the world.


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Ah, another comfort book, this one actually more comforting than the last because this seemed to have a little meat to it.

Although 'Book Two,' it really had little to do with Book One. There was some tie-over, but this book was more of a 'prequel' to Book One and could easily be read first. This book deals with the origin of the first earth Green Lantern superhero. This was not a story I was familiar with -- although a fan of the Green lantern comics, and knowing that Alan Scott was the first Green lantern, I did not know his story. ANd not knowing the comic originstory, I don't know how accurate this is to that tale, but I found this to be easily acceptable.

This book was a good study in character, showing us more of the growth of the person, Alan Scott, rather than the actions of the Green Lantern superhero. It manages to create some nice dramatic conflict in a variety of ways, and is easy to read as well.

I don't know if there's a 'Book Three' out there or not, but if so, I'd surely pick it up. Christopher Priest has done a fine job of storytelling and really kept my interest.

Recommended for fans of comics and sci-fi/fantasy.

THE RED LEATHER DIARY: RECLAIMING A LIFE THROUGH THE PAGES OF A LOST JOURNAL -- Lily Koppel

Harper -- hc
New York -- ©2008 -- 321pp
ISBN: 978-0-06-125677-6

An old diary, recovered from a dumpster by an ambitious young newspaper reporter, leads to a wonderful glimpse of history through the eyes of another ambitious, intelligent young girl.

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What a wonderful discovery, this diary and this book.

Lily Koppel has done a magnificent job relating the story of Frances Wolfson to the reader, taking the intimate, personal notes of a private journal, and expanding on them through research.

And what a wonderful life, Frances Wolfson lives! The detail and intimacy, shared by a young teen who certainly never expects anyone to invade, is delightful. So many artistic types, male and female, can relate to so much of the anguish and longing for art and culture in their lives.

How fortuitous to find this journal of the young woman who managed to flit in some remarkable circles of distinguished personnel! To get such a personal account of some of these meetings really makes this book a rare gem.

Kudos to Koppel for the excellent work in finding and recognizing what she had and bringing it all together. And kudos to Frances, for a wonderful life, and her willingness to share.

THE GAME MAKERS: THE STORY OF PARKER BROTHERS -- Philip E. Orbanes

THE GAME MAKERS: The Story of Parker Brothers from Tiddley Winks to Trivial Pursuit
Harvard Business School Press -- hc
Boston, MA -- ©2004 -- 245pp
ISBN: 1-59139-269-1

A biography of one of THE most influential game-making families/business ever.

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I have to admit that I find the history of toys and games quite fascinating, so a book would have to be terribly dry and dull to not catch my interest. Fortunately this was not (dull).

I'd read Orbanes' history of the game Monopoly (which is fascinatingly complex) and knew that his writing style would be very approachable. Somewhat surprisingly, the older history seems most thorough and complete, but the more modern history, when Orbanes served as a VP at Parker Brothers, seems slightly more thin in detail. Is this because he was too close to the subject? Or because many of the people are still alive ... people who might hold sway over potential jobs? In any case, the oldest history of the origins of Parker Brothers is most fascinating.

What surprised me the most is how, what seemed like such a big name in game-making was really a pretty small-time, family-oriented company ... even up through the mid 1960's when I would have first discovered them. It was truly interesting to see how George Parker capitalized on ideas and times and managed to make things work; how his basic principles really were so effective; how such a small operation managed to achieved fantastic success.

I'd really like to read about the origins of Milton Bradley and Hasbro now!

THE 39 CLUES (BOOK ONE): THE MAZE OF BONES -- Rick Riordan

Scholastic -- hc
New York -- ©2008 -- 220pp
ISBN: 0545060397

Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world's most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.

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In typical YA fashion, this book tends to teach as much as it entertains, and it does a fair amount of both. Nothing wrong with that.

I did, though, find that the book bogged down a bit here and there. Trying to do too much perhaps? Too many people to keep track of and include in this 'race' for the clues?

The good-hearted, down-trodden brother and sister team (each with unique skills needed to find and solve the clues) quickly become the team to beat. They are chased, attacked, and assisted by other members of their extended family -- each trying to get to the clues as well.

But take note -- the clues (plural) I am referring to are mini SUB clues to the main clue. And this book only covers one clue. That's right, we can already see the game plan on Scholastic's part here! A guaranteed 39-40 book series! (Okay...I've since learned that it's a planned 10 book series. Not quite so bad, but still attempting to sell books that aren't even on the market yet!) This particular hard-cover book comes complete with a set of playing-card-type clues and a computer log-in code so that the reader can try to discover clues on-line and win prizes. Typical gimmicking from Scholastic and it may work ... or readers may get bored waiting for each new book.

We'll see how it develops.

I was entertained enough by the reading to try the next book in the series, but I do rebel against a planned series like this ... trying to sell a series of books in advance.

ETERNALS -- Neil Gaiman

Marvel Publishing, Inc -- hc
New York -- ©2007 -- 256pp
ISBN: 0-7851-2541-8

Graphic Novel
Illustrated by John Romita, Jr.

The super-powerful (but not super-hero) beings, known as Eternals, have been living 'normal' lives, forgetful of their powers and history. Their nemesis is returning and their duty to protect is needed, but first they have to remember who they are.

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Most people I know, who are comic/graphic novel readers, respond with a sort of reverence when you mention the name Neil Gaiman. I'm not as familiar with his work as many are, but when I saw this book in a nearby library, I picked it up, based soley on his name.

I'm not sorry I did. It wasn't a bad book at all, but it certainly didn't have me feeling as though I were in the hands of the Grand Master.

This hardcover book is actually seven comic books together in one binding. The first three of those books were interesting. Intriguing. but then it got messy. Confusing. A little boring, actually.

I'm glad I didn't spend any money on it, but just as glad that I gave it a read.

THE UNVISIBLES -- Ian Whybrow

Holiday House -- hc
New York -- 2003 -- 184pp
ISBN: 0-8234-1972-x

Oliver Gasper finds an ancient magazine with a 'disappearing' formula in it. Desperate to dodge a French test, he tries it out . . . and it works! The problem is, somebody's stolen the magazine and Oliver can't remember the words he needs to get back again. Fed-up with being trampled underfoot and trapped in bus doors, Oliver turns to Nicky Chew for help. Nicky's the most invisible visible boy in school, staying out of trouble so the teachers never notice him. Together they set out to find the missing formula. But will Oliver ever be seen again? [from Goodreads.com]

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I'm conflicted with how to rate this book.

I was so looking forward to reading this -- my boys nad I really enjoy the couple of picture books of Whybrow's and based on those, along with the fantasy nature of this, I was looking forward to a really great time.

At times this book didn't disappoint, but just as often, it was ever so dull. I'm quite certain that my 11 and 9 year olds wouldn't make it through this. They'd be too bored at the dull moments.

Surprisingly, this has not been American-ized. This, too, causes difficulty in reading. While I'm more than passingly familiar with many British slang, it definitely slows down the reading process to have to 'translate' some of it.

School Library Journal writes:

There is considerable body humor and some crude language. Some of Oliver's
pranks verge on criminal. He commits physical assaults, pulls a fire alarm, and
impersonates a male teacher making inappropriate personal comments to a female
staff member (the man loses his job as a result). For fantasy with a
self-discovery theme, steer readers to Bruce Coville's Magic Shop books
(Harcourt).

and I would entirely agree. This isn't as funny as the author is trying to make it, nor is the mystery quite as exciting as it's hoping to be. Sadly, this is simply fair.

WILL IN THE WORLD: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare -- Stephen Greenblatt

W.W. Norton & Company -- tpb
New York -- ©2004 -- 407pp
ISBN: 0-393-32737-x

Bringing together little-known historical facts and little-noticed elements of Shakespeare's plays, Greenblatt makes inspired connections between the life and the works and delivers "a dazzling and subtle biography" (Richard Lacayo, Time). Readers will experience Shakespeare's vital plays again as if for the first time, but with greater understanding and appreciation of their extraordinary depth and humanity.

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A very read-able book.

Most people familiar with literature are aware that despite being an incredibly popular writer, Shakespeare left very little information about himself. Here, Greenblatt accumulates all the previously written information about Shakespeare and combines it with a well researched history of the era. He draws likely scenarios (for instance: it is likely that as a young boy, Shakespeare attended a performance of a morality play by a traveling company -- Will's father was bailiff (mayor) of Stratford and ordered payment to be made to two traveling theatrical companies. The first performance, known as the Mayor's Play, was one in which the bailiff was expected to attend. Records show that in other similar situations, the children of the bailiff were often in attendance. Hence, likely that Will had been exposed to theatre at this time).

Greenblatt makes a good argument in all cases and even debunks a few previously alluded-to scenarios, offered by other writers.

We still can't know for certain how Will Shakespeare lived and loved, but we can continue to draw likely situations based on the history of the era that we do know. This book does it as well as any that I've read.

TOPDOG/UNDERDOG -- Suzan-Lori Parks

Theatre Communication Group -- tpb
New York -- 1999 -- 109pp
ISBN: 1-55936-201-4

The play tells the story of Lincoln and Booth, two brothers whose names were given to them as a joke, foretelling a lifetime of sibling rivalry and resentment. Haunted by the past, the brothers are forced to confront the shattering reality of their future. [from Amazon.com]


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Generally I've been surprisingly impressed with the Pulitzer Prize winning dramas. Often I find major award winning writing to be over-hype crap. The Pulizter's for drama that I have read have been pleasant gems. Until now.

This 2002 award winner, is the story of two African-American brothers (Lincoln and Booth), sorting out their lives. They hustle, steal, con, and try to work legitimate-but-low-paying jobs. Their past is nearly as amorphous as their future.

One of the ways in which I rate plays is by thinking on how much I would like to see it staged. As a play, it is meant to be seen, rather than read. This play, I have absolutely no desire to see. I can't imagine it being done somwhere and my thinking, "Oh, I'd like to see that." There is nothing about these characters or their situation that I can relate to, find appealing or even interesting, or desire to learn more about.

As a printed work, it's difficult to completely review this as something 'to be staged' and I can't help but review this as a written work. And here I have an even greater problem. As with so many big prize winning writers, this author has decided that she doesn't need to follow convention. "The" is "thuh" and "your" is "yr" and a contraction apostrophe...!?...forget it. And of course, why bother to write "(Pause.)" or "(Beat.)" as every other playwright is taught to do? Instead she lists the character's name, followed by no dialogue ... to suggest that they aren't saying anything.

I have decided that breaking convention/being unconventional is a sure way to get noticed by awards committees. Still, it would only bother me slightly if there was a story worth reading/seeing.

I am not familiar with either of the other two plays that were nominated for the Pulitzer in 2002, but I am much more curious now to compare them to the winner.

REPLAY -- Sharon Creech

Scholastic -- hc
New York -- 2005 --180pp
ISBN: 0-439-85861-5


A young boy feels invisible in his large, expressive family and hopes that his life on stage will bring him fame and fortune (or at least attention).

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I enjoy reading children's books. I have a lot of respect for most Newbery Award-Winning authors. I love the theatre. This should all combine to high marks for Sharon Creech's Replay, but it doesn't.

Creech does an admirable job combining the elements, but she forgot to focus on what the book is about.

Leo feels invisible in his family. Leo fantasizes about himself as hero in nearly every situation imaginable. Leo learns about his father as a boy. Leo learns about a lost family member. Leo learns that there is more to a person than just what he sees on the surface.

This last is probably the over-riding element in the book, but it gets lost amid too much other 'stuff.'

The switching in and out of the fantasy-Leo certainly adds something to the character ... what youngster doesn't imagine him/herself as the hero of any moment? ... but it really isn't important to the story. The main element is carried through as Leo discovers and reads his father's biography, written at the age of 13. It is underscored by his (Leo's) creating a back-story for his stage character, and it is punctuated by the discovery of a missing family member.

Unfortunately, none of these elements are built upon properly and instead of wonderful discoveries, the book peters out to a whimper.

Not a great showing by Sharon Creech

GYPSY WORLD (STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE #7) -- Ted Pedersen

A Minstrel Book -- tpb
New York -- ©1996 -- 114pp
ISBN: 0-671-51115-7
illustrations by Todd Cameron Hamilton

The Fjori star trader Orak is strictly off-limits as it docks at the repair bay on Deep Space Nine, but Jake and Nog can't resist the challenge of stealing a look at the Fjori star maps and trying to find the secret Fjori home planet, Eden. They find themselves trapped in the starship, hurtling though uncharted space. If they set foot on the forbidden planet, they'll be forced to stay for life. Their only hope is Vija, a Fjorian girl who asks the Council of Elders to let Jake and Nog attempt the perilous Rite of Passage in order to win their freedom.

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I totally understand trying to capitalize on a popular franchise, such as Star Trek (and all it's incarnations), but the problem with a book like this is that it necessarily features two incredibly dull characters from the series.

A knowledge of these characters is necessary as there is no character building/description in the book. This prevents the random reader from picking up and enjoying this kind of book.

The other problem with a book such as this is that it requires a moral ... a lesson learned for that young reader. In the better books I've read that lesson is well woven into the story. Here it is worn on the shirt-sleeve. The reader is practically hit over the head with the good-deeds-win-out lesson, and the sudden switch from jerk to friend by the guest villian du jour.

Not a recommended book by any means.

DOGG'S HAMLET, CAHOOT'S MACBETH -- Tom Stoppard

Samuel French, Inc -- playscript
New York -- ©1979 -- 83pp
ISBN: 0-573-60046-5
Full-length play; two one-act plays

This clever romp is two short plays. In the first, a troupe of English schoolboys (played by adults) speak in a mock language called "Dogg." This hilarious language babbles along until the schoolboys, who are studying Shakespeare's "foreign" language, present an incredibly funny 15 minute version of Hamlet and then encore with a two minute version! The second play, dedicated to dissident Czech dramatist Pavel Kohout, is about a performance of Macbeth he and his friends once staged in a living room since the government banned public performances. The action shifts between the bare stage and the police inquiry. The murder and intrigue of Shakespeare's play are juxtaposed with the Czech political harassment.

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I thought I knew this (these?) play(s), but having now read them, I realize that I've only seen a popular cutting from the Dogg's Hamlet section.

This play (actually two one acts, but they really do rely on one another to create a full play) is really rather unique and complicated. It is both hysterically funny and frighteningly intense. It is witty and clever, it incorporates two great Shakespeare plays quite well.

Of course I laughed through the beginning section of Dogg's Hamlet, but I didn't quite 'get' the transition to the Hamlet rehearsal/performance.

The "Cahoot" section was intriquingly intense, which let's up with the return of a "Dogg's" character.

I give this only three stars because, as literature to read, it is difficult and perhaps confusing. As theatre, this could be a really fun production in the hands of a director who has really explored it. I'd love to see this staged, fully....

SMILES TO GO -- Jerry Spinelli

Joanna Cotler Books -- hc
New York -- ©2008 -- 248pp
ISBN: 978-0-06-028133-5

A high school freshman and science geek struggles with all the normal trials for his age (mainly, girls [one in particular] and friends who are more popular) but everything is more complicated when he learns that nothing ... NOTHING ... lasts forever.

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Jerry Spinelli has an uncanny knack for capturing me in his books.

Okay, perhaps that's a bit extreme, and certainly quite self-indulgent, but the truth is, I recognized traits in the main character that I most certainly displayed when I was that age. Chances are that boys that age today recognize themselves too.

I was able to read this book in one sitting. Not because it was an easy read (it wasn't too difficult, though), but because it held my interest ... I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to see what happened next. It's definitely well written and it would be easy for a reader to get caught up in it.

But even with that ringing endorsement, I can't quite give it five stars.

I don't mind leaving a book with questions unanswered. But I don't like getting to the end of a book to discover that the direction the author was going in is suddenly changed. Deviating from the path is okay, but changing the rules of a game is not. The ending comes quite suddenly, with a curveball at the reader so severe that we couldn't possibly see it coming -- and it changes what the book is about.

This boys' exploration of love, death, friendship, eternity, and the discovery that what he thought he knew to be true, wasn't, suddenly becomes a book about family. It turns the outside, inside, and really, what we spent 150 pages reading, doesn't matter anymore. But it should. Even a new discovery about something personal, something famil-iar, should still have it's connections with what's gone before.

Yes, there are hints at this throughout. I realize that. But the hints aren't strong enough to be taken seriously, and at least one part of the discovery, which is rather important, is TOLD to us, by another character (I'm trying very hard not to create spoilers) -- there is no way that our character, or we, could have discovered it without being directly informed. It's kind of a cheap way out (and the drama of the near-ending is a bit over-done), and for that, I take away one star. ...a four-star book.

THE BLACK THRONE -- Roger Zelazny and Fred Saberhagen

Baen Books -- hc (book club edition)
New York -- ©1990 -- 278pp
no ISBN - book club edition

An alternate history story, featuring Edgar Allen Poe ... possibly explaining why he was so tormented (he was living in the wrong dimension, having been switched with Edgar Allen Perry). Perry takes up the story, trying to right the dimensional discrepencies with the help of Annie, the powerful woman who created the rift though was duped into doing so by men seeking the secrets of alchemy.

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I admit that I struggled some with this book at the beginning, but I believe that this is because Zelazny tends to start a story right in the middle, forcing the reader to catch up to him.

I am not at all familiar with Fred Saberhagen, so I'm not sure what his influences are with this book.

Once I was caught up with the story, this was the type of read that is difficult to put down. I always wanted to read 'just one more chapter.'

Although the book managed to hold my interest through to the end, the last quarter or so seemed to get bogged down. I actually wondered if perhaps the authors traded off chapters and each wanted to add his own mark to the tale, although they both lacked necessity in telling the tale.

Some chapters spanned a few minutes ... the action being 'real time' and some chapters took place over several months. The inconsistency was always jarring.

I liked it well enough... reading Zelazny is like luscious, literary fruit ...but it failed to tell the story cohesively for me.