Svetlana's Reads and Views

General Information: Name of Book: When Adam Opens His Eyes (Adam i nun ttul ttae) ISBN: 978 1 56478 914 3 Publisher: Dalkey Archive Year it was published: 2013 (original 1990) Summary: First published in 1990, this is a sensational and highly controversial novel by one of Korea's most electrifying contemporary authors. A preposterous coming-of-age story, melding sex, death, and high school in a manner reminiscent of some perverse collision between Georges Bataille and Beverly Cleary, the narrator of this book plows through contemporaneous Korean mores with aplomb, bound for destruction, or maturity--whichever comes first. Author: Jang Jung-Il (Translated by Hwang Sun-Ae, Horace Jeffery Hodges) About the Author: (From the book) Jang Jung-Il was born in 1962. Once he began his career as an author, the self-educated Jang's wide-ranging tastes led him to try his hand at various genres. Jang Jung-il is infamous-and has even been jailed-for his erotic and vio...

Name of Book: Come Next Spring Author: Alana White ISBN: 978-1-504034234 Publisher:  Open Road Distribution Type of book: Tennessee Smoky Mountains, 1949-1950, community, friendship, classicism, literature, Gone with the Wind, families, horses, strangers, welcoming, outsiders, insiders, city, country Year it was published: 1990 Summary: It’s 1949 in Tennessee Smoky Mountain country, and everything in pre-teen Salina’s life seems suddenly different. Her sister is engaged, her brother is absorbed in caring for his sickly foal, and salina feels she has nothing in common anymore with her best friend. This novel for young people captures the insular spirit of the mountain people, the breathtaking country itself, and a girl’s struggle to accept the inevitability of change. Characters: Main characters include Salina, a twelve year old red-headed precocious reader who believes in a happily ever after for Scarlett and Rhett. She has an older sister, Mary, an older bro...

Name of Book: Witch Author: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-69055-8 Publisher: Archway Paperback Type of book: Witch, supernatural, suspense, revenge, gifts, sacrifice Year it was published: December 1990 Summary: Julia is a young woman with extraordinary powers. She has the ability to heal people with her touch. She also knows things that are happening in far-of places when she looks in water that has sunlight shining on it. She comes from a tradition of witches—good witches. But before Julia's mother died, she warned her daughter never to look in water that had moonlight shining on it. Unfortunately, almost by accident, Julia does. What she sees is a vision of the future, a scene in which a young man she doesn't know is shot in a hold-up and dies in her arms. Only later, when Julia attends a football game at school, does she meet the young man. He is her girlfriend's new boyfriend. Julia immediately falls for the guy, but it is an ill-fated love. He d...

Name of Book: Maniac Magee Author: Jerry Spinelli ISBN: 9780590452038 Publisher: Scholastic Type of book: 1980s, racism, Two Mills Pennsylvania, myths, legends, orphan, kid to young adult. Year it was published: 1990 Summary: "Ma-niac, Ma-niac He's so cool Ma-niac Ma-niac Don't go to school Runs all night Runs all right Ma-niac, Ma-niac Kissed a bull!" He wasn't born with the name Maniac Magee. His real name was Jeffrey Lionel Magee, but when his parents died and his life changed, so did his name. Maniac Magee was a legend. Kids were always talking about how fast he could run; how high he could jump; how no knot would stay knotted once he began to untie it. BUt the thing Maniac Magee was best known for is what he did for the kids from the black East End and those from the white West End of Two Mills. Maniac Magee was special. And this is his story. Characters: Maniac himself didn't seem to go through a lot of changes while others lik...

Name of Book: Fall Into Darkness Author: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-67655-5 Publisher: Archway Paperback Type of book: 1990s, murder, revenge, mystery, insanity, trial, young adult Year it was published: February 1990 Summary: The trail is for murder. Ann Rice is dead. Her best friend, Sharon McKay, stands accused. But there is no body. And the three witnesses to the crime only heard what happened, and did not see it. Nevertheless, the prosecution is almost certain of victory. Ann was alone in the dark with Sharon on top of the cliff when Ann fell the 500 feet into the torrential river that claimed her life. There was only one route leading to the cliff, and all the witnesses can remember hearing the girls arguing before the fall occurred. Sharon's only defense is that Ann committed suicide. But everyone who knew Ann, including Sharon, said she was not the suicidal type. And they were right. Ann was much more than suicidal. She was obsessed. Characters...

Name of Book: Elizabeth's first kiss Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-15835-x Publisher: Bantam Skylark Part of a Series: Sweet Valley Twins and Friends Type of book: Sweet Valley, California, 1985, boys, growing up Year it was published: 1990 Summary: Elizabeth Wakefield has known Todd Wilkins since kindergarten, but she's never noticed how cute he really is, until she sees him dancing with her sister, Jessica. Now Elizabeth cant' stop thinking about him- and everywhere she goes, Todd turns up, to. Could he actually like her as much as she likes him? Elizabeth wishes she knew more about boys. But when she finally asks her twin for some advice on the subject, she makes a terrible discovery: Jessica has a crush on Todd, too! How can Elizabeth fall for a boy that her sister already likes? There's only one honorable thing to do: forget Todd and never let Jessica know she cares. But that's not going to be such an easy thing to do... Character...

Name of Book: Jessica's Secret Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-15824-4 Publisher: Bantam skylark Part of a Series: Sweet Valley Twins and Friends Type of book: 1985, teens, menstruation, California,  growing up Year it was published: 1990 Summary: Jessica Wakefield has always prided herself on being the more sophisticated twin, but suddeny it's her sister, Elizabeth, who's blossoming. Overnight, something wonderful has happened to turn Elizabeth into a young woman. And now Jessica's sure that if anyone- especially her sister- finds out that it hasn't happened to her, she'll die of humiliation. Then the twins get permission to travel to San Diego by themselves to visit their cousin Robin. It's the perfect opportunity for Jessica to prove just how grown-up she really is. But will acting older than hera ge get Jessica into more trouble than she can handle? Characters: The characters, although they had to learn the lessons from the...

Name of Book: People of the Wolf Author: W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear ISBN: 0-812-50737-1 Publisher: Tor Historical Part of a Series: The First Native Americans Type of book: prehistorical, shamanic, Dream, savior complex, -13,000 years ago, adult Year it was published: 1990 Summary: In the dawn of history, a valiant people forged a pathway from an old world into a new one. Led by a dreamer who followed the spirit of the wolf, a handful of courageous men and women dared to cross the frozen wastes to find an untouched, unspoiled continent. This is the magnificent saga of the vision-filled man who led his people to an awesome destiny, and the courageous woman whose love and bravery drove them on in pursuit of that dream. A sweeping epic of prehistory, People of the Wolf brings the true story of the ancestors of today's Native American peoples to life in an unforgettable saga of hardship and determination, conflict and passion. Characters: On...

Name of Book: The Carnival Ghost Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-15859-7 Publisher: Bantam Part of a Series: Sweet Valley Twins and Friends super chillers; prequels; the christmas ghost, the ghost in the graveyard; sequels; the ghost in the bell tower, the curse of the ruby necklace Type of book: Sweet Valley Twins, ghost, carnival, 1980s Year it was published: 1990 Summary: A traveling carnival is on its way to Sweet Valley, and Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield can't wait to ride the roller coaster, have their fortunes told, and try their luck at the games. But when they get there some odd things happen to the twins. A fortune-teller warns Jessica to stay away from the carnival. And a mysterious girl named Claire seems to appear out of nowhere and suddenly becomes best friends with Elizabeth. Elizabeth is strangely drawn to Claire. She begins to ignore her friends, her chores, and even her sister to spend time with her new friend. It's as if she's...

Name of Book: The ghost in the graveyard Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-15801-5 Publisher: Bantam Part of a Series: Sweet Valley Twins Super Chillers: #2 (Prequels the christmas ghost, sequels: carnival ghost, ghost in bell tower, curse of ruby necklace, etc.) Type of book: Sweet Valley Twins, 1980s,  young adult, Year it was published: 1990 Summary: Strange things have been happening to Sam Sloane ever since he moved from San Francisco to Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield's neighborhood in Sweet Valley. He can't figure out why everything in town looks so familiar—or why he's mysteriously drawn to a crumbling old mansion in town. When he visits a cemetary in the dead og night and sees a ghost who looks just like him, he tumed to Elizabeth and jessica for help. At first the twins think Sam is imagining things. After all, who believes in ghosts? But the more the girls get to know their new friend, the more they feel he's telling the truth. Something...

Name of Book: The Silver Kiss Author: Annette Curtis Klause ISBN: 0-440-21346-0 Publisher: Laurel Leaf Books Type of book: Vampires, coming of age, death, love story, 1980s, young adult Year it was published: 1990 Summary: Zoe is wary when, in the dead of the night, the beautiful but frightening Simon comes to her house. Simon seems to understand the pain of loneliness and death and Zoe's brooding thoughts about her dying mother. Simon is one of the undead, a vampire, seeking revenge for the gruesome death of his mother three hundred years ago. Does Simon dare ask Zoe to hlep free him from this lifeless chase and its intolerable solitude? Characters: The characters are three dimensional and one can see them change throughout the book; that is they don't stay the same. The villain in this book is one dimensional and seems to be excused from change because he is only a child. I enjoy reading about Zoe's journey from angry teenager to someone who tries...

Name of Book: Mother Earth Father Sky Author: Sue Harrison ISBN: 0-380-71592-9 Publisher: Avon Fiction Part of a Series: Ivory Carver Trilogy, My sister the moon, Brother wind are sequels Type of book: Pre-historic, Aleut, Alaska, coming of age, 7056-7055 B.C.E, stories, legends Year it was published: 1990 Summary: In a frozen time before history, in a harsh and beautiful land near the top of the world, womanhood comes cruelly and suddenly to beautiful, young Chagak. Surviving the brutal massacre of her tribe, she sets out across the icy waters off America's northwest coast on an astonishing odyssey that will reveal to Chagak power secrets of the earth and sky...and the mysteries of love and loss. Characters: The character of Chagak is drawn realistically, especially when she is struggling with herself and what the society demands from her. It also shows Kayugh who also has lost everything but yet he keeps on going strong, and eventually succeeds. Much to ...

Name of book: See You Later Author Name: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-02025-0 Publisher: Archway Paperback Type of book: Young adult Year it was published: April 1990 Summary: Mark has just graduated from high school and has just fallen in love for the first time. THe girl's name is Becky. Unfortunately for Mark, Becky has a boyfriend. Mark tries his best, but he is unable to win Becky for himself. THen Mark meets a young couple: Vincent and Kara. Both look extremely familiar to him, although he could swear he's never seen them before. They quickly become good friends. Kara does not want Mark to give up on Becky. In fact, Kara is obsessed that Mark and Becky get together, and she comes up with an elaborate scheme to break up Becky and her boyfriend. Mark thinks the scheme is cruel. He tries to stop kara. He doesn't succeed. Suddenly Becky is a free woman, and Mark can't help but ask her out on a date. THen things start to get very strange. AN evil ma...

Name of the Book: Star Author Name: Danielle Steel ISBN: 0440205573 Publisher: Dell, Bantam Doubleday Dell Type of Book: Adult, historical, romance Year it was published: March 1990 Summary: Young, innocent and strikingly beautiful Crystal Wyatt was an outcast, envied and resented by all but her devoted father, with whom she shared a deep love for their remote California ranch. When her father dies, Crystal is alone and unprotected. Devastating events shake the once peaceful valley. With nothing but her dreams, her beauty, and her awe-inspiring voice, Crystal escapes to embark on the career that will ultimately make her a star. But stardom itself is shadowed by danger and violence and haunted by a memory that must be resolved before Crystal can find happiness and peace. Characters: The characters are on the flat side, women more so. There are two main women in the novel: the beautiful and innocent looking Crystal Wyatt and the smart intelligent Elizabeth Barclay H...