Svetlana's Reads and Views

Title of the book: Little Things Long Remembered; Making Your Children Feel Special Every Day 500+ sure-fire stellar ways Author:  Susan Newman Publisher: Random House/Crown Publishing Date: 1993 ISBN:  978-0-9914660-0-9 Summary: “Little Things Long Remembered,” updated for today’s time-strapped families, offers hundreds of ways to create treasured childhood rituals. Chock full of thoughtful and loving ideas that mean a lot—especially to children. Chapters are divided into convenient timeframes: Gestures to strengthen family ties that take seconds, activities when you have five minutes, half an hour, or the entire weekend. Plus special circumstance suggestions for when your child is not feeling well or when you travel, for birthdays, major and minor holidays--including a set of Cardinal Rules to insure whatever you do is fun, builds character and celebrates your family. Small parcels of time well spent shape long-lasting memories that are the backbone of fa...

Abaguchie mania! Caroline Malloy shivers happily when her on-again, off-again enemy Wally Hatford tells her that a strange animal known as the abaguchie has been spotted in their neighborhood. According to Wally, an abaguchie skeleton was found years ago in the cellar of Oldaker's bookstore. Wally swears Caroline to secrecy and warns her not to go down and search for herself. But Caroline will do anything to solve the mystery of the bones. Wally, who's sure that boys are smarter than girls, tries to foil her plan. Caroline knows girls are smarter than boys and means to prove it with the help of her sisters. For my take on this book, please click on the link here: COMING UP 3 out of 5 (0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)

Still smarting over the boys' latest trick on them, the girls are determined to get even. Caroline's thrilled to play the part of Goblin Queen in the school play, especially since Wally Hatford has to be her footman. The boys, however, have a creepy plan for Halloween night. They are certain the girls will walk right into it. Little do the boys know what the Malloy sisters have in store. For my take on this book, please click on the link here: COMING UP 4 out of 5 (0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)

Just when the Hatford brothers were expecting three boys to move into the house across the river, where their best friends, the Bensons, used to live, the Malloys arrive instead. Wally and his brothers decide to make Caroline and her sisters so miserable that they'll want to go back to Ohio, but they haven't counted on the ingenuity of the girls. From dead fish to dead bodies, floating cakes to floating heads, the pranks and tricks continue—first by the boys, then the girls—until someone is taken prisoner! Will the Malloys leave West Virginia? Will the Bensons come back? Trust the four Hatford boys and the three Malloy girls to do anything to get one up on each other in this fun-filled war of the wits. Readers will cheer for their favorites in this lively story of two feuding families written by Newbery Medal winner Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Watch for the continuing chronicles of the Hatfords and the Malloys in The Girls Get Even. For my take on this book, please cl...

Name of Book: Traitors Author: Kristine Kathryn Rusch ISBN: 0-451-45415-4 Publisher: RoC Type of book: fantasy, revenge, persecution of creativity, Kingdom, Golga, police, rebellion, romance Year it was published: 1993 Summary: Emilio Diate has vowed vengeance on the Kingdom for the government's merciless execution of his entire family. Now forced to start over on the merchant island of Golga, where he knew  his dancing Talent would be forbidden, the handsome fugitive joins the secret police with only one dark intention- to stlak his family's killers and serve his own brand of justice. But when love intercedes, Diate may become the victim of his own revenge. For Sheba, the woman who has stolen his heart, also wears the crown of queen in the Kingdom, and is the very person Diate has schemed to have assassinated. A treacherous scheme that may end his one true chance at happiness- and spell the end of the universe. Characters: I want to say that the charact...

Name of Book: The Virgin Suicides Author: Jeffrey Eugenides ISBN: 9780349105437 Publisher: Harper Collins Ltd Type of book: 1970s, suicides, depression, theories, puzzles, mystery, goddesses, wealth, Michigan, decay, nature, oppression Year it was published: 1993 Summary: This beautiful and sad first novel, recently adapted for a major motion picture, tells of a band of teenage sleuths who piece together the story of a twenty-year old family tragedy begun by the youngest daughter’s spectacular demise by self-defenstration, which inaugurates “the year of the suicides.” Characters: I'm not really sure how to describe the characters of the series. We think we might know them, but at the same time we don't. They seem to be three dimensional, but at the same time what do we really know about them? The boys reveal very little of themselves throughout the novel, and the characters of other people make brief appearances but then as soon as their stories relating...

Name of Book: Homeland Author: John Jakes ISBN: 0-553-56499-4 Publisher: Bantam book Part of a Series: Crown Saga Type of book: Germany, 1890-1900, America, Spanish revolution, immigration, brewing, movies, flickers, panorama of American life, true love, reverse-Cinderella story Year it was published: 1993 Summary: As America hurtles through the final explosive events of the nineteenth century, a young German immigrant named Pauli Kroner is about to realize his dream. He will taste a life of privilege in the Chicago mansion of his uncle, Joe Crown, head of a brewery dynasty. But Pauli's ultimate clash with that stern, proud patriarch will force him to a risky existence on the city's dark side. Here he will become Paul Crown, a bold, ambitious man driven by a powerful vision. His rise from penniless newcomer to pioneer newsreel cameraman will span a tumultuous decade of strikes, war, family scandal, and heartbreak in the country he has chosen as his... C...

Name of Book: The Eternal Enemy Author: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-74509-3 Publisher: Archway paperback Type of book: time travel, 1990s, origin of the universe, robots, future, sacrifice Year it was published: May 1993 Summary: A VCR that could tape tommorrow's news. Rela has just bought herself a new VCR. She sets the machine to tape a movie she plans to show at a party she is throwing. But instead of the movie she gets the news -- tomorrow's news. Soon Rela is regularly recording next week's news, even what is to happen in the far future. It's fun, at first, until she sees herself on the news. And learns that there is no future for her. But can she change destiny? Can Rela survive what is meant to be? Characters: There's is something endearing and sweet about Rela, something that caused me to like her strongly. I think of all the Pike's female heroines, she is the strongest and the most vulnerable. Rela lives in Pasadena with ...

Name of Book: Tender Assault Author: Anne Mather ISBN: 0-373-11649-7 Publisher: Harlequin Type of book: romance, tragedy, love, adult novel, alpha male, island, cougar love Year it was published: 1993 Summary: India had been thirteen when Nathan Kittrick was banished from Pelican Island. Now, shrouded, in scandal, he'd come home, heir to his father's multi million-dollar holiday resort- a man determined to claim what was rightfully his. Nathan's return brought back bitter memories, and India greeted him with angry accusations of the past. And this time he had to listen, because she was no longer a child, nor his once faithful shadow. In fact, India had been managing the luxury hotel since his father's death. India was also a woman determined not to let her former trust for this man be rekindled. But she hadn't expected Nathan's assault on her senses to be quite so tender. And she hadn't expected her desire for him to be quite so strong.....

Name of Book: The curse of the ruby necklace Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-15949-6 Publisher: Bantam Skylark Part of a Series: Sweet Valley twins and friends super chillers Type of book: horror, mystery, death, Sweet Valley, supernatural, young adult, 1985 Year it was published: 1993 Summary: Identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are thrilled when they land small parts in a movie being made in Sweet Valley. The film is based on the true story of the mysterious death of twelve-year-old Lillian Keller, and it's being filmed at the creepy old Keller mansion. One stormy afternoon, Jessica finds an old necklace on the beach near the mansion. She puts it on, and that very night she has a terrible nightmare about a girl falling to her death. She becomes convinced that someone-or something-is trying to tell her that the mystery of Lillian Keller's death is far from solved. But can a necklace really hold the secret to a murder? Characters: The cha...

Name of book: The Evil Twin Author Name: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-29857-7 Publisher: Bantam Type of book: Young adult, contemporary Year it was published: 1993 Summary: Margo's monstrous plan is complete. She came to Sweet Valley to find a new life, and discovered identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield and their "perfect" family. If only Margo can get rid of one of them, she can take her rightful place in the Wakefield home. Now the moment Margo has been waiting for has arrived. The twins aren't speaking to each other. Sweet Valley is in chaos. Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield are out of town. Margo has just enough time to do what she needs to do. Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield are in mortal danger. Characters: One dimensional characters, although I have to admit that Margo is very creepy. The twins, as I have mentioned previously, don't learn from their mistakes and I constantly rolled my eyes at the things that were happening to them....

Name of Book: The year the horses came Author Name: Mary Mackey ISBN: 0-06-250735-4 Publisher: Harper Collins Type of book: Adult, pre-historical fiction Year it was published: 1993 Part of a Series: Horses at the gate, Fires of spring, afterwards Summary: The year is 4372 B.C.E a beautiful girl is poised on the brink of womanhood and her culture is about to undergo one of the most momentous transformations in human history. So begins Mary Mackey's dazling tale, a page-turning saga that revisits the wild and panoramic beauty of ancient Europe to tell a story of extraordinary love and passion in the midst of intrigue and war. The Year the Horses came vividly evokes the violent moment in prehistory when marauding nomads brought horses, male gods and war to a Europe that had known peace for thousands of years. Against this perilous backdrop, a passionate, dangerous love develops between Marrah, a brave and gifted priestess, and Stavan, one of hte warriors sent to...

Name of the Book:  Jewels Author Name: Danielle Steel ISBN:   0-440-21422-X Publisher: Dell, Bantam Doubleday Dell Type of Book: Adult, historical Year it was published:   June 1993 Summary:  "On Sarah Whitfield's seventy-fifth birthday, memories take her back to New York in the 1930s. To a marriage that ends after a year, leaving Sarah shattered. A trip to Europe with her parents does little to raise her spirits, until she meets William, Duke of Whitfield. In time, despite her qualms, William insists on giving up his distant right to the British throne to make Sarah his duchess and his wife. "On their honeymoon, the newlyweds buy an old French chateau, but not long after, the war begins. William joins the allied forces, leaving Sarah, their first child, an infant, and their second child on the way, in France. Sarah survives the terror of the Occupation, unwavering in her belief that her missing-in-action husband is still alive. "After the war...

Name of book:  The Burning Author Name:  R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-86833-0 Publisher:  Archway Paperback, Parachute Inc Type of book:  Kid to young adult, attempt at being historical, horror Year it was published:  October 1993 Summary: Simon Fear thought changing his name would stop the evil. He was wrong-dead wrong. After generations of unspeakable horror, it is up to Daniel and Nora, brought together by their fateful love, to unite the feuding families. But is their forbidden love strong enough to withstand such awesome evil? Poor Nora-desperate to tell the truth and bury the family curse…before it buries her. Characters: Again the characters are interesting and somewhat fascinating for one dimensional characters. I do have problem with Angelica though. In the novel we get a chance to get a glimpse at her thoughts and actions and behavior. In thoughts, there is no indication that she thought Simon was her soul-mate until later o...

Name of book:  The Secret Author Name:  R.L Stine ISBN:  0-671-86832-2 Publisher:  Archway Paperback, Parachute Inc Type of book:  Kid to young adult, attempt at being historical, horror Year it was published:  September 1993 Part of the series:   The Fear Street Saga Summary:  What is the secret of Fear Street? Why has its horror lasted for so long? Ezra Fier wants to find out. He searches for the answer among the rotting bones in the ghostly town of Wickham. But he finds only betrayal and death. Elizabeth and Kate are in love with the same boy. How can they know that they too are caught by the evil that will haunt this family forever? Characters:  The characters are a little far more unique and entertaining; in beginning two sections of the book you have Jonathan who is good and doesn't desire or want the father's power; then you have the mother who confuses her youngest daughter for her eldest, (the si...

Name of book:  The Betrayal Author Name:  R.L Stine ISBN:  0-671-86831-4 Publisher:  Archway Paperback, Parachute Inc Type of book:  Kid to young adult? Year it was published:  August 1993 Summary: Why do so many horrifying things happen on Fear Street? Nora knows. She knows how the terror began. She knows about the young girl who burned at the stake-and the bloody feud between two families that caused the unspeakable horror that has lasted 300 years!  She knows, and she wants to tell. Are you sure you want to hear it? Characters: The characters are one dimensional and have very little personality distinguishing them from one another. The story is mostly focused from female perspective and supposedly it takes place from witch hunts in Salem until 1725. The characters were also victims of circumstance and although they attempted to stand up for themselves, (as in the case of Susana who tries to deal with the mob that ...

Becoming mature through Immortality Title: The Immortal Author: Christopher Pike ISBN: 0-671-74510-7 Publisher: Archway Paperback Type of Book: Young adult although anyone can enjoy it, historical, modern, Greece, Greek myths, fantasy Year it was published: July 1993 Summary:  Josie is on vacation in Greece with her father, his new girlfriend, and her best friend. While visiting the sacred island of Delos, she accidentally stumbles upon an artifact-a tiny statue of a Goddess. Immediately Josie is enchanted by the statue and she takes it with her when she leaves the island. Then the trouble starts. A guy takes her for a boat ride and she is almost killed. Then the image of the Goddess begins to haunt her dream. The goddess wants something from Josie that she doesn’t want to give. The immortal wants to be mortal. The Goddess wants Josie’s life. Characters: The characters within this book are round, in particular the main cha...

The Non-existent Romance A Stranger Here , written by Thelma Hatch Wyss, is about a sixteen year old girl named Jada Sinclair who visits her relatives for the summer, and meets the infamous Starr Freeman, the one who died on the same day she was born. This novel takes place in the summer of 1960 and should appeal to those interested in the lives of small tight knit communities, and even if it is marketed for young adults, I doubt this novel will hold much appeal, especially in 2010.     Published by HarperTrophy, ISBN: 0-06-447098-9 in 1993. This is historical and takes place in 1960s.   The characters are flat in my view. Minus one flaw Jada sounded a little too perfect; she is able to get along with her aunt and uncle, she is a romantic, keeps her promises and is a good listener. She doesn’t seem to go through any change. The only part I disliked about her is that she is very rude to the boy that likes her. “’What do you mean it doesn’t matter?’ Daniel follo...