GrannyNanny
23 reviews
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A Cluster of Separate Sparksby Joan Aiken First-class Gothic
by
GrannyNanny
on August 3, 2012
Joan Aiken was a pretty reliable performer in her early Gothics, of which this may be the best. Her wonderful, wacky, truly surreal sense of humor is not, of course, on view here -- for that, you ... More 
Life of Piby Yann Martel Astonishing book -- bought a second copy!
by
GrannyNanny
on August 3, 2012
The youngster whose tale is told in this book was already a fascinating person before he found himself adrift in a lifeboat in the Pacific with no one but a quartet of zoo animals, including a 450 ... More 
The Church MouseUtterly charming!
by
GrannyNanny
on April 19, 2012
"The Church Mouse" is the first in a delightful series of colorfully illustrated, wonderfully funny books about mice and a cat who live in a church. The books are thoroughly English-y (with a vicar ... More 
Fifty Common Birds of Oklahoma and the Southern Great PlainsExquisite classic
by
GrannyNanny
on January 11, 2012
This book has a full-page picture of each of the fifty birds chosen, and then a facing page of delightfully informal and informative comment and description. Dr. Sutton was an artist and a scholar, ... More
Tony, the HeroStandard Alger, standard rewards
by
GrannyNanny
on April 28, 2011
I like Horatio Alger. He is like comfort food -- like tomato soup or macaroni and cheese. You know exactly what the moral is going to be, you know the shape of the story, you read it for ... More 
Henrietta Sees It Through: More News from the Home Front 1942-1945by Joyce Dennys interesting, funny
by
GrannyNanny
on April 28, 2011
I believe there is usually an element of surprise in humor, and beyond a certain age it gets harder to be surprised -- having seen so much already. But Henrietta can surprise me and make me laugh ... More 
The Sundance Kid: The Life of Harry Alonzo Longabaughby Donna B Ernst, Dan Buck (Foreword by), Anne Meadows (Foreword by) More than you knew about Sundance
by
GrannyNanny
on February 17, 2011
A very good read. The author had family reasons for being interested in the Sundance Kid, and spent considerable time tracing records and memories of what he was like and what actually happened. ... More 
Death Walks in EastreppsA fine period piece
by
GrannyNanny
on May 22, 2010
This is a fine, amusing and engaging mystery in the classic mode of the think-and-rethink brain-twister puzzle, rather than an exercise in mayhem. Most satisfying. More 
Brief Candles: 101 Clerihewsby Henry Taylor Limp imitation
by
GrannyNanny
on May 22, 2010
This collection features four-line peoms mostly concerning an inside group of names you might not care about or ever have heard of, uninspired rhymes, and no particular identifiable humor. Probably ... More 
La Traviatadirected by Franco Zeffirelli Lush and lovely Traviata
by
GrannyNanny
on January 5, 2010
This thing is achingly beautiful to both ear and eye, and as a surprising plus, the subtitles are so well managed that you can actually make out a lot of the Italian as it is sung. Truly wonderful. More 
Rogue Maledirected by Clive Donner Dark and confusing
by
GrannyNanny
on December 17, 2009
I enjoyed the novel this film is based on, and thought the movie might be interesting, but it seems to assume all along that you just finished reading the book and know what's happening. Well acted ... More 
Epaminondas and His AuntieClassic folktale
by
GrannyNanny
on December 17, 2009
Although the story is one found in many cultures -- the dim, literal-minded youth who keeps following yesterdays instructions however inappropriate they may be to today's errand -- this book is NOT ... More 
Sam and the Tigers: A New Telling of Little Black Samboby Julius Lester, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator) Politically correct Black Sambo
by
GrannyNanny
on December 17, 2009
If Julius Lester can't rescue this charming tale from oblivion, nobody can. I do kind of miss the rhythms and repetitions, and especially the phrase, "Now I'm the grrrandest tiger in the jungle!" ... More 
A Child of Their OwnOdd, but very pleasant
by
GrannyNanny
on September 22, 2009
A family of exquisite 1/12-scale dolls fear being bought by a serious collector and never being played with. Their adventures after they are bought produce an odd, rather lovely and perceptive tale. More 
A Very Personal ComputerTechno-magic!
by
GrannyNanny
on September 22, 2009
Lonely, geeky youngster finds himself interacting with a computer that seems to know about him, care about him, and then helps him change his life. Very satisfying stuff! More
The Girl Who Listened to Sinksby Justine Rendal, Rebecca Leer (Illustrator) Poor girl makes good
by
GrannyNanny
on September 22, 2009
Lonely little girl hears conversations between inanimate objects and brings prosperity to her single-parent household. It's what you would expect from this author -- a good story with a happy ... More 
The African Queendirected by John Huston This one holds up!
by
GrannyNanny
on August 13, 2009
We recently had a little in-house Katharine Hepburn film festival, and concluded that most of her films were really pretty dumb. This one isn't. It's every bit s good as I remember, and for once ... More
How I Got to Be Perfectby Jean Kerr
by
GrannyNanny
on July 30, 2009
As I age, it is harder and harder to make me laugh. Jean Kerr can do it. I think it is because she is so intelligent, so educated, so misplaced (although happily so) as a traditional wife-and ... More 
Young Men in SpatsCraftsman of the word
by
GrannyNanny
on July 30, 2009
If it were only for "Uncle Fred Flits By," this would be worth owning. I read that aloud to my children, and we kept having to stop and gasp for breath. What an artist! More 
Complete Storiesby Dorothy Parker, Colleen Breese (Editor), Colleen Bresse (Editor) Period piece
by
GrannyNanny
on July 30, 2009
You do sort of have to be in the mood for Dorothy Parker. Her humor is so deeply unhappy, and yet these classics still deliver. More 
Bedtime for FrancesTop-of-the-line
by
GrannyNanny
on January 1, 2009
If you were so unlucky as to have only one of the Frances books, this would be the one to have. This thing is high art, with a simple plot that unfolds logically to an inevitable conclusion, and an ... More 
Birthday for FrancesFirst-class!
by
GrannyNanny
on January 1, 2009
I read this book to my children long, long ago, and I still quote it from time to time. Frances is such a tough little character, and the lessons of the Frances books are so gently taught that ... More 
Bread and Jam for FrancesJustifiably classic
by
GrannyNanny
on January 1, 2009
Like the other Frances books, this one is funny and wise, knows all about the stubbornnesses of very small children, is likely to enter into the language of the famiy that reads it. Parents will ... More
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