Reading Tai-Bo
This week I read “Tuck” by Stephen R. Lawhead, the last book in his marvelous Robin Hood series, and “How to Train Your Dragon”, and “How To Be A Pirate” both by Cressida Cowell. Good books all. I really lucked out this week to get three wonderful reading experiences all in a row. “Tuck” with its lyrical language and sweeping epic finish was all that a book should be. It took me a bit to get into, just like with “Scarlet”, but once attached I could barely put the book down. Because of his gift for description, many of Lawhead’s books take time to get going. But it is well worth the effort. Then on to “How To Train Your Dragon”. I absolutely loved the movie, but in order to enjoy the books you must put the movie behind you, for they are completely different. But once that was done, I completely love love love these books. I would describe the series as…Eragon meets Captain Underpants. These are middle grade novels written for boys ages 9-12 and they are charming and gross and hilarious with just a touch of depth. Absolutely perfect for their intended audience, and me surprisingly. But then again with three rampaging male children of my own, I am quite fond of boys. Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the III is truly hopeless and his dragon Toothless even more so. And yet when all else has failed and the strong and mighty heroes have been beaten to a pulp, it is the loosers who rise and take a stand, even when they know the cost will be terrible. Books for young boys who find themselves tragically normal, but would like to be heroes. Hiccup gives us all hope that their dreams could come true.
