Theme = Imagination

I am once again blown away by Selznick whose latest novel is The Marvels. I loved both Wonderstruck and of course Hugo, so eagerly looked forward to reading this one as well. The artwork is spot on again; riveting, beautiful and tells an engaging story. The narrative adds to it nicely, and while many write that it was chunky or not as well written as the previous two, I was still drawn in. I thought the mystery was handled well, and I loved the ending.

Some are stipulating that the "theme" of the book is homosexuality, and that makes me laugh out loud. That isn't the theme at all. The theme in this excellent novel, is imagination. How imagination, story telling, and fantasy can assist us all in troubling times. How imagination can bond people together, whether in a romantic love, or a familial one, or when alone and troubled.

Even the scenes of Frankie chasing the dog, and trying to come up with the perfect name, adds to that theme, the theme of imagination.

While some teachers are expressing the view that they can't have this on their classroom shelves, I fully disagree. Much of the supposed troubling aspects are subtle, and there is so much more in the novel that the children will hone in on. The teacher can guide the student in how the novel is structured, point out that the theme is imagination (if they don't pick up on that), or not. In addition books on classroom library shelves aren't similar to books being read as class novels, so the fear that parents will be upset is pretty much a moot point. Yes, HIV is mentioned, yes romance and love between men is subtly addressed but gosh, if you can't realize that the points being made deal with imagination, accepting and helping others (as Albert does with the young man who was destined for possible prison, until he saw Marcus' strengths), and discovering yourself as an individual within and separate from your family, then I just don't know what to say.

Further, kids are certainly hearing about homosexuality since many states have finally made the decision to allow marriages to take place; I am simply blown away by folks who are "shocked" that love is part of a children's book.  
In addition, I am betting there is at least one child in those classrooms with similar family structures, that would really enjoy this book. This book is wonderful, and I highly recommend it. I too am a teacher and will include it in my classroom library.

Undertow: Draws you in, and won't let go.

I absolutely can't wait for the second in this series! Undertow by Michael Buckley was wonderful. Great character development, interesting plot, great themes, just truly a wonderful, wonderful read.   I highly recommend this novel..  Teens and adults alike will get so much out of this novel, as they ponder similarities with issues in our world.

A new species, Alpha, emerge from the water and attempts are made to integrate with humans.  Lyric discovers she is half-Alpha, and keeps this secret as long as she can.  She is forced to befriend the prince of the Alpha, and naturally romantic feelings start, which complicates her life even further.

Issues of loyalty, empathy, cultural differences, family love, war and peace, all lead up to an exciting conclusion in book one.

This book will be available on May 5th, and I for one and am already counting the days until the second one comes out.

Finished the series

I finished Cuba Straits over spring break.  I enjoyed it, primarily because I am interested in Cuba and hope to visit one day.  I enjoyed the fact that Tomlinson played a large role, and I found the plot quite interesting..especially how various characters were all tied into it.

I prefer Ford's first person narratives to the 3rd person (which was used in the first couple of books in the series), but I quickly got over that. 

In this and in one other book, characters state Fidel is dead, and as far as I know he isn't...but I am sure  RWW knows more than his readers do :-). 

I have read this entire series, starting in December, 2014 when I had the pleasure of visiting Sanibel.  I enjoyed all of the books, some quite intensely due to the character development, historical information, life on the islands, Ford's home and lab.  A couple I didn't care for as much, as stated in an earlier post, but I am addicted to those characters. So much so that I am finally going to start reading other works, until Doc Ford's 23rd story line is written by the wonderful Randy Wayne White.

Didn't win

I entered a contest to win a visit to Sanibel to have dinner with Randy Wayne White..it was a long shot, and I didn't win..but I entered because this series is so compelling

I am now on book 20, Night Moves There are only two books so far I didn't care for much. One was Hunter's Moon, because there wasn't enough of Tomlinson in it. The other is Chasing Midnight; while it had a bit more of Tomlinson in it, it wasn't a Tomlinson I recognized much.

In those two books I missed the fishing guides, and other characters in the most recent books, as well as the historical references, and marine life information.  In addition Doc Ford was a little more in touch with his clandestine side to the detriment of his more introspective side, but gosh...I remain a fan and am hooked by the plots, Doc Ford and Tomlinson.  Night Vision was a bit weak in some respects as well, but I was engaged by the main character's view point in that one, and the information regarding immigrants, migrant workers, and Mayan descendents.  2-3 books not hitting a home run with me, out of 22, isn't bad at all.  I mean truly, the others' home runs were totally out of the ball park. The majority of his narratives are just wonderfully written.


His latest book arrives today, and I have to finish Night Moves and, Bone Deep prior to starting Cuba Straits.

I still can't believe I became so hooked on this series, that I have ignored other authors I love....but what can I say, they are compelling.

Book Ten

I did manage to read a book in between, but have continued with my zeal for the Doc Ford series.  I am a third of the way through Everglades.

It is odd for me to continue reading a series; so many putter out and dismay me.  Many authors end up having their characters do things totally out of character, therefore I completely stop reading anything by them. (prime example, the Scarpetta series by Cornwell...she committed that unforgivable sin, and the characters that she didn't have doing unfathomable things she flatlined...they stopped developing).

Hence, the reason the Doc Ford series continues to draw me in: Character development.  Characters staying true to themselves (in the midst of the reader discovering more about them), and plots that propel the characters into situations that don't have them straying from their central "being."

I love as well the interplay between Tomlinson and Doc Ford; it would be hard for anyone to pull off developing these two wildly differing people, yet White manages to do so.

I root for both characters, and root even more for their friendship. 

The next four books in the series are due to arrive today; it certainly appears as if I will read through the series. Cuba Straits comes out in March.  I have the others to read while I wait for that one.  I actually entered a contest via Goodreads to win a copy of his latest, but since I never post anything to Goodreads, I am sure I won't win that.  I entered through Facebook, after discovering he has an author page. He (or whomever runs his author's page) responded to a question I had about his Hannah Smith series...I truly didn't expect a response, so that was an added touch that makes me respect him even more.  As an aside, I did try that series, and it didn't grab me like Doc Ford did.

Enough of my rambling; onto reading Everglades! 

Truly, if you haven't picked up this series...do so now...only other comparison I can make, is with the Harry Potter series! 

Travel Reading

I love finding books set in the places I have traveled to. Reading The Perfect Storm while in the Rockport/Gloucester area about 15 years ago started me on this quest, to find books set in my destination, to read while there. I have enjoyed reading books set in Slovenia, Toronto, and Seattle...but none caused me to write about, or recommend anything particular. As we planned our trip to Florida, I looked for the Doc Ford series by Randy Wayne White.  I picked up the first one Sanibel Flats at the library, the day before we left for Sanibel, Florida.

I read the second The Heat Islands (and discovered I had read it years ago; it was THE book that put Sanibel on the travel radar for me, only getting to visit now!). I bought it at Doc Fords restaurant, which is on Sanibel, and was just a couple of miles from the cottage we stayed in. I ordered books 3-7 on Amazon, and just finished Captiva, which is the fourth book (in I believe 21 at this point).


I vowed after reading each of the four thus far, that I would take a break and read something else in between, but each is so compelling, it has me reaching for the next book, without reading something else in one of my many piles of "to read" next books.

Thus, I am starting North of Havana, leaving piles of other reading material behind.  I can't imagine reading all 21 before venturing into other genres/other writers, but who knows?

It is interesting to me that the first 3 were written in 3rd person, and Captiva switched to first person.  White pulls this off beautifully, and I truly enjoyed the switch...I liked the 3rd person narratives, but enjoy hearing Ford's voice come through in such a compelling manner.

If you like Carl Hiaasen, you will enjoy this series.  In reality it is probably more Hiaasen mixed with perhaps John MacDonald...basically, if you enjoy mysteries, interesting locales, great character development, and adventure thrown in for good measure (while also dealing with local politics and environmental issues), then you too might want to check out this series.  Just be prepared, because you won't be able to stop with just one.