The author of this book is a regular poster on a message board which I frequent. Several months ago we had a discussion about “The Historian” which she was not a fan of. After reading her book, I now see why. Who wants a cryptic unhygenic vampire when you can have a chiseled dashing vamp of your dreams?
Not that Ben has to worry about me or anything. Heaven knows I look awful in a turtleneck.
Oh, shutup. It was good.
Really, it was.
You didn’t think I could go back to work without having read Harry Potter and the Mulatto, did you? I have standards!
Also, I realized that the only reason I cared about Professor Snape’s actions in this book is because Alan Rickman* plays him in the movies. But otherwise, guess how little I would care?
*Ok, so I was sadder about Sirius Black/Gary Oldham. Thanks to Carrie for the correction.
Well, I figured I ought to read one of this years Booksense Book Of The Year winners before the national booksellers convention in less than a month. Heaven knows that I’ll have to do hand exercises before I can even lift Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, much less read it.
Chasing Vermeer is illustrated by Brett Helquist who I once briefly stalked until I discovered he lived in Brooklyn. As I’ve said about Ben Marcus, I would follow him to the ends of the earth, but I put my foot down at Brooklyn. Ew.
But I digress.
I’m smitten with Brett Helquist’s illustrations – especially when they’re of a raven curly haired girl in glasses. XO, Helquist, XO.
The book is now available in paperback, but if you buy it you simply MUST get the hardback. When you remove the lovely illustrated dust jacket, you find the two Vermeer paintings central to the plot of the novel are the cover art. (One on the front, and one on the back. No title or anything else marring the show.)
Although “Chasing Vermeer” isn’t the type of young adult novel that I most love, I can definitely see why it’s become so championed. It’s about two children who are new friends to each other who, through a series of puzzling “coincidences” piece together the mystery of a recently stolen priceless Vermeer painting. It’s well written and fun.
However, I must confess: puzzles bore me. Well, except for the one about people STILL wearing white jeans. That puzzle terrifies me to the very marrow of my bones.
Llew’s Reviews
The Carnivorous Carnival: Book the Ninth of A Series of Unfortunate Events
by Lemony Snicket
Whoot! This is my favorite one thus far -so much that I wish people could read this one first as an introduction to the series. As always, it was supremely witty.
My favorite passage: “Besides getting several paper cuts in the same day or receiving the news that someone in your family has betrayed you to your enemies, one of the most unpleasant experiences in life is a job interview. It is very nerve-wracking to explain to someone all the things you can do in the hopes that they will pay you to do them. I once had a very difficult job interview in which I had not only to explain that I could hit an olive with a bow and arrow, memorize up to three pages of poetry, and determine if there was poison mixed into cheese fondue without tasting it, but I had to deomonstrate all these things as well. In most cases, the best strategy for a job interview is to be fairly honest, because the worst thing that can happen is that you won’t get the job and will spend the rest of your life foraging for food in the wilderness and seeking shelter underneath a tree or the awning of a bowling alley that has gone out of business…”
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