Hit or Miss: January | madameblogalot

Feb 1

Hit or Miss: January

Posted by madameblogalot at 4:03 pm in Uncategorized, home, kids & family, life, reviews

I knew it was time for Hit or Miss: January. I stopped by Shelly’s place to see what her list looked like. Again, she has done lots of reading and watching. My list looks pale compared to hers!

Screeps--This second book by Ed Wicke follows The Muselings. Again it is the adventure of children in an alternate universe. I did not like it as well as the Muselings, but once a certain character was met, I enjoyed it more. I would say this book was a HIT for me.

The Homework Machine-I gave this book by Dan Gutman to my nephew for Christmas. I have enjoyed Gutman’s The Kid Who Ran For President and thought this one would be good too. I was disappointed to find this book was too “mature” for my nephew. The book is about fifth graders and I did not like one of the words used to describe homework. I also did not like how the characters talked about “going out” and holding hands, things I think fifth graders are too young for and I did not want my nephew thinking that is what fifth graders are expected to do (he’s in third grade.) The story overall was ok, cute premise and I did like how the characters melded together otherwise. I guess just for the audience I purchased this for, I call this one a MISS for me.

Game Show In My Head-this new TV game show/series has become a HIT for my family. It comes on Saturday night (pizza night in our house) so we have been looking forward to it. When it did not air last week, we were all disappointed. The show has contestants going around performing crazy stunts that are piped into their ear via radio. Others around them have no idea what is going on. At times, I do cringe as folks get taken advantage of. I am hopeful that they are later let in on the joke.

And Then There Were None-we were excited to see the stage performance of this Agatha Christie mystery last night. At first I was unsure of the “look” of some of the cast, but it turned out to be a pretty good show. I was surprised at the length of the show, three hours with two intermissions. We had seen one of the actors perform Huck Finn at another theater last fall. I enjoyed his performance here as Capt. Lombard better. The play ended more like the movie, not like the book. I was a little disappointed in that, but had wondered how they would adapt it for the stage. All in all, though, I would call it a HIT.

Hit or Miss: January has 9 Comments

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Shelly wrote:
February 1st, 2009 at 6:52 pm

That looks like a fun list! I love And Then There Were None.

I liked Muselings better than Screeps too, but found both OK overall, and was glad that my nephew got into reading them. I think it helped him think reading A WHOLE BOOK was something cool, so that was a good result!
madameblogalot wrote:
February 1st, 2009 at 9:36 pm

I like And Then There Were None too, but like the book better than either the film or play.

I have the same feeling about Muselings and Screeps, I am so glad he read them. really good for him. found some things in there that I think he could identify with as well and maybe some subconscious things he could never express…
Merry wrote:
February 3rd, 2009 at 7:30 pm

I think I’ll check out Muselings for my third grader… though I’ll skip the other one for now (I don’t like the idea of ‘going out’ in fifth grade, either) We’re working hard on his reading - it doesn’t come as easily to him as it did to oldest daughter - but she has to work at math, and math comes easy to my third grader… they each have different things to work at and that come easier to them.

Anyway, I don’t know what reading level your nephew’s at, but my third grader really liked Rotten School by RL Stine. I didn’t notice anything too adult in the ones I read with him, either. You might like those.
Malcolm wrote:
February 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm

I always liked that Agatha Christie play.

Malcolm
madameblogalot wrote:
February 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 pm

it was fun!
edddwicke wrote:
April 4th, 2009 at 3:10 am

I’m not sure how one submits a comment - am new to this & tried yesterday without success!

I’m gratified to find that someone is reading Muselings & Screeps after all these years. I often toy with the idea of bringing them out again, plus the third book that’s written in my head.

I’ve written a further 7 books, all for 8 - 12 year olds. The one that children love most is “Wicked Tales”, which are some of the stories I tell when I visit schools in England and northwest Florida!

edddd
madameblogalot wrote:
April 4th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

wow ed, thanks for visiting my lowly blog and for leaving a comment! (and for trying more than once to leave it!) what an honor to have an author stop by and comment!! my nephew likes Muselings and Screeps both. Will have to look for your “Wicked Tales”. I bet the kids you visit love hearing your tales! thanks again for the comments!
edddwicke wrote:
April 11th, 2009 at 6:07 am

If you or other readers have any suggestions for the revised editions of Screeps & Muselings - which I expect to get round to sometime this year - please do pass them on (edddwicke@hotmail.com). Which was the “certain character” you mentioned in the blog which made the book more interesting?

Thanks

ed wicke
madameblogalot wrote:
April 13th, 2009 at 2:17 pm

hi ed! I liked meeting up with King Arthur in Screeps. It was fun to meet him there!

I loved the surprise of who was met in Muselings. My nephew told me I would love it and he would not give away who it was. Lots of fun for young and old alike!

I will pass the word on to my sister and nephews about suggestions for revised editions. What an honor to have you ask!