Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland by H. G. Wells

by Carol7 Comments
Mr. Skelmersdale in Fairyland by H. G. Wells I tend to associate H. G. Wells with science fiction, so I was surprised to come across this short story, which was first published in 1903. It's a fairy tale for adults, more or less. The narrator of the story hears about a shopkeeper, Mr. Skelmersdale, who everyone seems to believe has actually been to fairyland. Eventually, the narrator gains Skelmersdale's trust and hears the story. After an argument with his girl, Skelmersdale wandered out to Aldington Knoll and fell asleep. When he awoke he was somewhere entirely different and elves escorted him to fairyland. There he met the beautiful, enchanting Fairy Lady, who becomes his companion. A time came, indeed, when she sat on a bank beside him, in a quiet, secluded place "all smelling of vi'lets," and talked to him of love. Eventually he has to leave fairyland and has nothing to show for his time spent there. He wants to return desperately, but can't. Often,...
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Game Night – Cranium Super Showdown

by Carol3 Comments
Cranium Super Showdown Publisher: Cranium, Inc. Year Published: 2006 # of Players: 4-6 Playing Time: 20 minutes Suggested Age: 8 and up I tend to like Cranium's games, and this is another good one. It a funny, goofy game perfect for families. It gets everyone thinking in illogically logical ways. You use cards in your hand to pick wacky challengers to take on crazy contests, like monster truck rallies and bubble-gum bubble blowing. Who would win a pie-eating contest: a monkey with backup dancers or a pirate on a pogo stick? Everyone gets to state their case and the judge decides who would win. The person(s) whose character wins earns coins for that round, and everyone gets a chance to be the judge. It sounds silly but it really is a blast. We've even played without keeping score, just to see what silly combinations end up being the best at the contests. Or who can come up with the most creative explanations that are still reasonable in a...
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The Emperor’s New Clothes

by Carol8 Comments
"The Emperor's New Clothes" from Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen Finally a fairy tale with no evil step-mothers, no wicked witches, no damsels in distress waiting for a knight to save them. The Emperor is obsessed with his wardrobe and hires two weavers who promise to make a beautiful cloth that will be invisible to anyone who was not fit for their job or who was "extraordinarily simple in character." I'm sure you know what happens next. The weavers are frauds and just pantomiming work at their looms, but anyone who comes to view the cloth pretends that they can in fact see it, that it is beautiful. Once the "suit" is finished, the weavers help the Emperor put it on and he wears it for a procession through town. All the villagers admire the beautiful fabric until a child calls out that the Emperor has "nothing at all on." Others take up the cry. The Emperor was vexed, for...
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The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse

by Carol11 Comments
The Inimitable Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse This was my first meeting with Jeeves, and I must admit that I enjoyed the audiobook immensely. The book is a series of very loosely linked stories. In most of them, young, wealthy Wooster or his pal Bingo Little get in some sticky situation often involving a woman or gambling, and it is up to Wooster's genius butler Jeeves to solve the problem. Sometimes Wooster asks Jeeves for help and sometimes Jeeves takes care of the situation before Wooster even realizes there is cause for concern. I have to say that some of the situations Wooster found himself were just hilarious. My personal favorite, though, is when he goes to the country and bets on the which of the local parsons will deliver the longest sermon. The narrator's accent and the British slang were a treat for me and just added to the fun. I will definitely be reading more of the Jeeves books. First published in 1923 6...
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The Help by Kathryn Stockett

by Carol17 Comments
The Help by Kathryn Stockett I loved this book. I know it was on just about everyone's best of '09 lists, but it took me until now to finally read it. Everyone was right; it's a wonderful book, definitely worth reading. Skeeter has returned home to Jackson, Mississippi after graduating from Old Miss. It's 1962 and she's a twenty-two year old woman who is ready to make her mark on the world, has aspirations of becoming a writer and is advised to start by writing about what disturbs her. With the help of Aibileen, a black maid who is raising her 17th white child but whose own son has died, Skeeter begins to collect the stories of these black women who the upper class families rely on but don't necessarily trust, need but don't respect. Skeeter, Aibileen, and all those who work with them are crossing the lines that divide the town, could literally have their lives ruined or taken because of...
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