The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf

The Savage Damsel and the Dwarf by Gerald Morris

This is a fun romp with many silly knights on horses through Arthurian ledged. I read it when I was, oh, twelve, along with anything else I could get my hands on by Gerald Morris. My mother read the books with me, giggling over the witty dialogue and the random things that happened along the way to Camelot. Perhaps this is not the most serious book, but it will be enjoyable. That much I can promise. (:

The Book Thief

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

I was standing in the middle of the bookstore, delaying the inevitable homework, when I picked this up a few years back. The first few lines hooked me. They were different, and lyrical, and intriguing. When I had finished the first chapter, I tucked the hardback under my arm, and headed to the register.

Here's an excerpt. Perhaps you'll see.

"You are going to die.

I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't' ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me."


I read that, and I thought---huh???? Perhaps you've already heard who narrates this book, but if you haven't, I won't ruin that delicious secret. You'll figure it out somewhere in the first few chapters. Then you'll meat Liesel, a young book-stealing girl in Nazi Germany. I remember liking her. I don't remember what happens at the end. I might have cried. I remember being satisfied...and thinking of the strange beauty in this book amidst all of the war.

I think I just might reread this. Care to join me?