MMGM: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Today's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday pick:

Books 1-13, A Series of Unfortunate Events
These covers are out of order!?!

A Series of 
Unfortunate Events

Written by Lemony Snicket
Cover by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins, 1999
Ages 8-12, Lexile 1010L
Avg 263 pages, Avg 41000 words


Themes:
Misfortune, Misery, Despair, Orphans

Opening:
"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle. This is because not very many happy things happened in the lives of the three Baudelaire youngsters. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire were intelligent children, and they were charming, and resourceful, and they had pleasant facial features, but they were extremely unlucky, and most everything that happened to them was rife with misfortune, misery, and despair. I am sorry to tell you this, but that is how the story goes."


Thoughts:
A Series of Unfortunate Events follow the misadventures of three orphans as they unravel their parents mysterious past and their uncertain future. All the while they are pursued by a villain-to-end-all-villains, count Olaf. Though the later books were a bit plotless, and the ending was somewhat unsatisfying, the grim humor, inventive storytelling, and iconic Snicket style from dedication to jacket blurb are worth turning every page.

And now random tips:
Definitely start with The Bad Beginning. Read them in order. Don't skip the front and back matter including the dedication, the jacket blurbs, and the author's note. Seriously.
The Wide Window remains my favorite. The Grim Grotto my least. Hang in there. I thought the books lost a little steam by book 8, but 9 is hilarious.
You may want to take breaks in between. I found some of the humor loses its charm if you do all 550K-odd pages in a row.
Don't miss out on all the companion artwork by Brett Helquist. Also stop at his Etsy shop for some Baudelaire prints (some never before published!)
The cds are no substitute for the paper versions because many of the jokes depend on visual cues, but I do recommend the cds once you've read books 1-13. The author narrates his own audiobooks. His creepy deadpan isn't for everyone though, so the publisher rerecorded the series read by the unparalleled Tim Curry. (Have a handkerchief handy for his interpretation of Mr. Poe!)


Bonus: 
1. Our illustrious host, Shannon Messenger reviewed this series on her blog.

2. Want more Lemony Snicket madness? He has written plenty of other amazing books. I reviewed his fabulous picture book, The Composer is Dead, illustrated by Carson Ellis.
Kitty Cat at the Library reviewed All the Wrong Questions, the first book in a different series. All the Wrong Questions has a different voice, but the same quirky bent, this time with a noir twist.

3. Other MMGM bloggers recommend
Deadweather and Sunrise, by Geoff Rodkey, cover by Iacopo Bruno
Rooftoppers, by Katherine Rundell, illustrated by Terry Fan
The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield, by John Bemelmans Marciano, illustrated by Sophie Blackall
A Whole Nother Story, by Dr. Cuthbert Soup, illustrated by Jeffrey Timmins.


Deadweather and Sunrise,
The Chronicles of Egg #1
Reviewed by the Hopeful Heroine

Rooftoppers
Reviewed by Jenni Enzor

The 9 Lives of Alexander Baddenfield
Reviewed by Always in the Middle

A Whole Nother Story,
Reviewed by Shannon Messenger

Visit the Friday Drive-In review of  A Series of Unfortunate Events.

View all the Summer Drive-In reviews for 2017.

Check out all the recommended titles for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday for September 11, 2017 available on Shannon Messenger's Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe.

Have you reviewed any Lemony Snicket books? Please leave your link in the comments below. Feel free to leave your other MG recommendations, too. Thanks!

Now Playing: A Series of Unfortunate Events

Perfect Picture Book Friday returns today, so this is the last book/movie review for the year. Join me next week for my picture book review of Blue Sky White Stars.

Welcome to the Bookish Ambition 

Summer Drive-In  

The Circle Drive-In from my childhood. Still open and now with double features on two screens!

Now Playing: 
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Written by Lemony Snicket
Cover by Brett Helquist
HarperCollins, 1999
Ages 8-12, Lexile 1010L


A Series of Unfortunate Events,
Netflix, 2017

A Series of Unfortunate Events, Complete Wreck (#1-13)
HarperCollins, 1999

Themes:
Misfortune, Misery, Despair, Orphans

Highlights from the book? 

• The tongue-in-cheek cover copy, backmatter, dedication, etc.
• Brett Helquist's illustrations
• Grammar jokes
• Bizarre humor

Highlights from the series?

• Count Olaf
• Music written by Nick Urata
• Attention to detail
• Addition of clues and hints to the larger plot

Opening:
"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, you would be better off reading some other book. In this book, not only is there no happy ending, there is no happy beginning and very few happy things in the middle. This is because not very many happy things happened in the lives of the three Baudelaire youngsters. Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire were intelligent children, and they were charming, and resourceful, and they had pleasant facial features, but they were extremely unlucky, and most everything that happened to them was rife with misfortune, misery, and despair. I am sorry to tell you this, but that is how the story goes."


Movie Trailer:

Thoughts: 
A Series of Unfortunate Events is a horrible book series about three orphans who suffer terribly at the hands of a heinous villain and who, though they are exceptionally bright and talented, are surrounded by people who are not, which leads to even more misfortune.

Actually, this is a great book series. The macabre humor is adored by both kids and adults. I absolutely recommend the book series over the Netflix series because much of the humor is dependent on the printed page. However, for fans of the books, I do recommend this well-produced-if-somewhat-unusual TV series. The shows have been re-scripted to include foreshadowing of many of the twists which affect the series arc. The show has an increased cohesiveness, but lacks the more subtle revelations I enjoyed as I read each book sequel. As of yet, there is no scheduled second season. This puts the series at another disadvantage...it only goes up top book four!

While the first episode is excruciatingly drawn out, it also adds delightfully ghoulish touches of it's own like a bizarre musical number. The kids are adorable if not perfectly cast, and a few characters throughout the series just aren't as caricatured as in the books, but those are nitpicks. I think audiences of all ages can enjoy the Netflix Original. Watch it and tell us your opinion.

Reminisce with intermission commercials
from Captain Bijou on You Tube.

Visit Our Snackbar!

Instead of the traditional Drive-In fare, I've included a recipe for Puttanesca sauce and 10 ways to prepare roast beef, just in case you are forced to watch this series with an estranged,distant, and demanding relative.

Nostalgic for a drive-in movie?
There are over 5,000 drive-in theaters across the U.S. mapped for you on Cinema Treasures.

Create your own snack trays with dollar store caddies
 thanks to Penny Pincher Jenny

Have you seen any screen adaptations about the Baudelaire's? What's your opinion?

Have you reviewed any Lemony Snicket books? Please leave your link in the comments below. Thanks!

View all the Summer Drive-In reviews for 2017.

Check out the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday review of  A Series of Unfortunate Events, coming September 11, 2017.

MMGM: Ozma of Oz

Today's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday pick:

Ozma of Oz, The Books of Wonder edition 

Ozma of Oz

Written by L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by John R. Neill
Originally published by Reilly & Lee, 1907
Wiliam Morrow/Books of Wonder, 1989
Ages 8-12, Lexile 1070L
272 pp, 37000 words


Themes:
Fantasy Adventure


Opening:
"The wind blew hard and joggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface. Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows. The billows rolled dreadfully high: higher even than the tops of houses. Some of them, indeed, rolled as high as the tops of tall trees, and seemed like mountains; and the gulfs between the great billows were like deep valleys.
"All this mad dashing and splashing of the waters of the big ocean, which the mischievous wind caused without any good reason whatever, resulted in a terrible storm, and a storm on the ocean is liable to cut many queer pranks and do a lot of damage.
"At the time the wind began to blow, a ship was sailing far out upon the waters. When the waves began to tumble and toss and to grow bigger and bigger the ship rolled up and down, and tipped sidewise—first one way and then the other—and was jostled around so roughly that even the sailor-men had to hold fast to the ropes and railings to keep themselves from being swept away by the wind or pitched headlong into the sea."


Thoughts:
Dorothy, accompanied by Billina the hen, travel to Ev to battle the Nome King and free the royal family.

I was surprised how much I liked this book. Though I like Oziana, I would not consider myself a fan of the original series. In general I find I like the ideas more than the stories themselves. Ozma is an exception. Perhaps I've grown wiser or perhaps this book is just funnier. I loved the writing style better than previous books. Of course, I saw the movie when I was in high school (do the math) and absolutely fell in love with many of the characters from Ozma. The movie played in my head as I read.

Have you read any of the other Oz authors? Most people say the sequels are inferior to L. Frank Baum's stories, but I am fond of John Neill's The Purple Prince of Oz. 

You'll find my review of the movie Return to Oz on last Friday's Summer Drive-In.


Bonus: 
1. Fans can join the International Wizard of Oz Club.

2. Ben, of My Comfy Chair, reviewed Rinkitink in Oz for MMGM way back in 2011.

3. Other MMGM bloggers recommend

Land of Stories: Beyond the Kingdoms, by Chris Colfer, reviewed by Reading Violet.
The Ever Afters: Of Sorcery and Snow, by Shelby Bach, reviewed by Green Bean Teen Queen.
The Aviary, by Kathleen O'Dell, reviewed on That's Another Story
No Passengers Beyond This Point, by Gennifer Choldenko, reviewed here on Middle Grade Mafioso.
Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, by C. S. Lewis, reviewed by BookishAmbition.

The Land of Stories book 4,
by Chris Colfer
and Brandon Dorman

Ever Afters book 1,
by Shelby Bach and Cory Loftis

The Aviary,
by Kathleen O'Dell
Cover by Molly Bosley

No Passengers
Beyond This Point, 
by Gennifer Choldenko
and Tyson Mangelsdorf

Check out the Summer Drive-In review of Return to Oz partially based on Ozma of Oz, from
August 18, 2017.
View all the Summer Drive-In reviews for 2017.

Check out all the recommended titles for Marvelous Middle Grade Monday for August 21, 2017August, 21, 2017 available on Shannon Messenger's Ramblings of a Wannabe Scribe.

Now Playing: Return to Oz

Perfect Picture Book Friday will return in September.
Until then,

Welcome to the Bookish Ambition 

Summer Drive-In 

The Circle Drive-In from my childhood. Still open and now with double features on two screens!

Now Playing: 
Return to Oz
Ozma of Oz written by L. Frank Baum
Illustrated by John R. Neill
Originally published by Reilly & Lee, 1907
Ages 8-12, Lexile 1070L

Return to Oz, Disney 1985
Poster by Drew Struzan

First edition Ozma of Oz, Reilly & L, 1907 

Highlights from the book? 

• A whole new Baum land to explore
• Billina's feisty role in the story
• The lunch pails
• The return of classic Oz characters
• Tongue-in-cheek writing

Highlights from the movie?

• Tik-Tok and Jack Pumpkinhead
• Dazzling array of special effects still holds up over 30 years later
• Costuming by Raymond Hughes
• Spectacular claymation both fascinating and creepy
• Faithful continuation of Oz series

Opening:

"The wind blew hard and joggled the water of the ocean, sending ripples across its surface. Then the wind pushed the edges of the ripples until they became waves, and shoved the waves around until they became billows. The billows rolled dreadfully high: higher even than the tops of houses. Some of them, indeed, rolled as high as the tops of tall trees, and seemed like mountains; and the gulfs between the great billows were like deep valleys."

Movie Trailer:

Return to Oz is based on two books by L. Frank Baum, Ozma of Oz and The Marvelous Land of Oz. The film picks up where the MGM classic leaves off. Dorothy has helped the Scarecrow and her other friends reclaim Oz from the witch and travelled home by means of the ruby slippers. Back in Kansas, Dorothy and her family must rebuild the farm after the tornado's destruction. None of the adults in Dorothy's world believe her tales of Oz. This sets up the meeting with the Kansas villains who have Oz counterparts played by the same actors. After a storm, Dorothy finds herself back in Oz. She battles Princess Mombi and the Nome King to rescue the Tinman, Scarecrow, Lion, and Ozma from their clutches.

 Return to Oz combines the best parts of the two books and includes an array of creative characters. The movie incorporates most of the settings in the book, changing them to be parts of Oz itself. Where Ozma rescues Dorothy in the book, in the movie rescuing Ozma becomes one of Dorothy's goals, placing her squarely in the role of heroine. Mombi is actually a combination of Langwidere and Mombi. The Gnome King is a fabulous villain, part claymation, part prosthetic. His transformation of the residents of Oz, as opposed to the royal family from the book, is a clever confrontation. The movie combines Henson puppetry, clay, costuming, green screen, animatronics, and other special effects to provide a seamless fairy land experience which holds up even after thirty years.

I would note that this film can be frightening to kids, as was The Wizard of Oz before it. The wheelers' comic appearance heightens their fear-factor (think scary clowns or dolls.) The Princess Mombi has a terrifying secret. Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead in particular face very dangerous moments. And in classic Oz style, Dorothy's misadventures in a mental institution back in Kansas are extremely unnerving.

Of course, those scary moments are what make this such a great adventure film. Fairuza Balk's believable performance as Dorothy, truly magical moments where gumps fly and metal men battle, comic highs, terror-filled lows, and sparkling sets and costumes, complete the cinema experience. Watch. This. Film. You won't be sorry. It's a masterpiece of kidlit come to life.

Reminisce with intermission commercials
from Captain Bijou on You Tube.

Visit Our Snackbar!

Snackbar food isn't always conducive to a healthy diet. Chicken fingers are kid-pleasing and a healthier choice than standard fare.

Plenty of parents make their own chicken fingers, but I admit I'd rather buy them frozen or fried from the snack stand. I highly recommend SimpleBites chicken dip made with just three ingredients. We serve it with fries and chicken (and anything else we can think of.) You'll find their chicken finger coating and their easy Honey-Mustard dip on their website.

Nostalgic for a drive-in movie?
There are over 5,000 drive-in theaters across the U.S. mapped for you on Cinema Treasures.

Not many theaters show cartoons anymore. If you're longing for a taste of the fifties, watch the 1939 Disney short below, The Little House, another children's book-turned-movie, this one based on The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton.

Have you seen any screen adaptations of L. Frank Baum's works? What's your opinion?

Have you reviewed any Oz books? Please leave your link in the comments below. Thanks!

View all the Summer Drive-In reviews for 2017.

Check out the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday review of  Ozma of Oz, coming August 21, 2017.

Have Book, Will Travel

"Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them."

-Lemony Snicket

Brett Helquist
 from Lemony Snicket's
Series of Unfortunate Events
Gracias a Imaginaria

Happy Birthday, Ludwig

We interrupt this series for a special birthday bulletin.

Today is Ludwig Bemelmans's birthday!

more . . .

A Knot of Toads

I have hardly mentioned chapter books in any previous post, so I thought it time to highlight a few.

Newberry Award winner,
Frog and Toad Together
by Arnold Lobel

No childhood would be complete without the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel.  Days With Frog and Toad is the first in this lyrical series of adventures.  In simple but engaging language, Lobel gets us to smile as these two friends  fight and laugh their way through everyday activities:  planting a garden, taking a ride, flying a kite.  These books are an absolute must for the illustrations alone.  Especially geared to readers grade 1-3, but appropriate for toddlers to adults.

Garden State
Children's Book Award
winner, by
Jane Yolen

Master storyteller Jane Yolen is better known for her picture books or middle grade novels, than for her easy to read chapter books.  Nonetheless, the Commander Toad series for readers 6-9, has equal appeal. Bruce Degen's humorous characterizations of the crew of the Star Warts and the galactic oddities they encounter are the perfect compliment to the writing.  Commander Toad books are a sure-fire way to turn reluctant readers into bookworms.

On an interesting aside, Bruce Degen lists Arnold Lobel as an early influence on his work.

For more amphibian adventures, check out Tuesday by David Wiesner.

And for a challenging quiz, test your knowledge at FunTrivia: Animal groupings with a twist.

Attention Adult Harry Potter Fans

Little Brown has just announced details of J. K. Rowling's new adult novel due later this year.  According to Hachette Book Group, the new dark comedy,  The Casual Vacancy is due September 27, 2012.  This news follows the announcement Rowling would be signing with a new publisher back in February.  We look forward to more great characterizations and a bewitching sense of place. (Pun intended.)

We wish her much success, and hope afterwards that she will grace us with another venture into the world of YA.

J. K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series and . . .

Little Women

Sorry I missed Tuesday's post.  I wanted to follow up Monday's quote with a book feature by the same author.  Better late than never, and so . . .

Little Women
1898 edition

Little Women
manga 2007

 

Little Women
1915
art by  Jessie Willcox Smith

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  is, undeniably, a classic.  The strong heroine who chooses her own destiny despite the opinions of society, was ahead of its time.  There are literally hundreds of editions of this novel, not taking into account the sequels or editions which contain multiple novels in one volume.

I have three copies and am looking for a fourth.  Oddly enough, this is not because it is my favorite story, but because so many fabulous illustrators have tried their hands at capturing the March girls: Shirley Hughes, Jessie Wilcox Smith, and Trina Schart Hyman to name a few.  I highly recommend the Viking edition by James Prunier, 1997.  This edition from The Whole Story series includes, not only Little Women and Good Wives combined, but also annotations and illustrations in the margins to make the cultural references understandable.

Willa By Heart

I just finished Willa by Heart, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore.

Willa By Heart
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Cover art by Barbara McGregor

Willa By Heart is the third book in the Wedding Planner's Daughter series.  I highly recommend Coleen's books.  This one is no exception.  I would suggest there is probably little for boys in these books.  The title character is an independent, artistic pre-teen trying to sort out her emotions and her family life.  It is full of frills and girly stuff, though Willa herself is much more grounded.  I particularly enjoy Paratore's character quirks and place descriptions of the Cape.

It is interesting to note the author lists Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott as her favorite childhood book.
Check out Coleen's newest book which premiered Feb 17, 2012.  And check out tomorrow's blog about Little Women.

Lloyd Alexander, Prince of Authors

portrait by Trina Hyman

I am embarrassed to say I have not posted a single spotlight on Lloyd Alexander.  It would be impossible to have a serious discussion about great children's literature and not refer to the work of Lloyd Alexander.  To make up for my gross oversight, I will dedicate the rest of this week's blog posts to the man and his works.

Mr. Alexander is best known for his creation of the fantasy series, The Chronicles of Prydain.  He wrote over 40 books and stories and was a master of characterization and dialogue.  He used fiction to explore real emotional themes.  He loved reading, writing, cats, the violin, and his wife Janine.  He was witty and soft-spoken.  A bard of the highest caliber.
I highly recommend this video link with a tour narrated by the man himself.

For more information, check out Foundation Stones of Prydain, The Prydain Companion, and The Gawgon and the Boy.

John Carter of Mars Premiere

Cover art by Frank Schoonover

Today Disney premieres John Carter of Mars in theaters.  I am looking forward to an action-packed adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs's A Princess of Mars.  But as usual, I suggest you read the book series for yourself.  If you've never read Burroughs, you simply must pick up a copy of Tarzan of the Apes.  It is well worth the read!

Courtesy Whatsits Galore

A note of caution: Not all cover art from the above series are suitable for all audiences.  Please use discretion when searching images.

Tuesdays, George, and Hohn

Tuesdays at the Castle combines the talents of two really charming people:  Jessica Day George, and David Hohn.  I have heard some criticism of George's middle grade fantasies, but don't agree.  Her characters are spunky and her point of view is unique.  I'm so pleased to see her latest book, released in October 2011, with fabulous cover art by David Hohn.  His illustration style is a fresh take on old favorites.  He seems willing to experiment with technique to create the right mood.  With such a winning combination, and the promise of a fun new series, this book shoots to the top of my "must buy" list.  Happy Reading!

Snow White & Rose Red
by David Hohn

Treasure Island
by David Hohn

John Flanagan's Brotherband Chronicles

I'm a little behind the times.   John Flanagan released the first in a new series last November.  Send your comments if you like it as much as the Ranger's Apprentice series.  I, for one, cannot wait to sink my teeth into The Outcasts.