Short Story and Children's Book Combo Pack (Weekend and Ballet)

Hello all. It's getting close to the end of the week so I just thought I'd review this week's short story and children's book all in one post. I might have to do the post like this through the month of May, because of work.  Let's start with the short story shall we.

Short Story of The Week

Story Title: Weekend

From: The Doll

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Summary 

A couple starts their weekend away thinking that they are perfect for each other. A misguided boat trip soon makes them see their relationship isn't a perfect as they thought. 

My Thoughts

Weekend was just an okay story for me. I didn't think it was bad, but something about it annoyed me a little. I don't know if it was the dialogue, the characters, or the ending. Maybe it was a little bit of all three. I just didn't effect me like some of the other stories in this book. Weekend does get points for at least being an entertaining read. I may have had to roll my eyes at certain sections, but I was not bored. Ha ha!

Children's Book of The Week

Book Title: Ballet

Author: Kate Castle

Age Level: 8 and up

Summary 

Kate Castle, former member of The Royal Ballet company, teaches you about the art of ballet dancing.

My Thoughts

My life is obviously all about dance. Especially right now when my students are so close to doing their end of the school year dance performance. I thought why not pick a book that is about dancing since that is what is on my mind. I personally think that this one of the best book about ballet. Not only for children but for adults as well. This book tells the reader all the elements of ballet dancing: history, training, what to wear, performance, ballet stories, etc. What I like about it is that it does it in such and accessible way. The book has short sections in bold that give an overview of what the page is about. This is great for younger kids that just want to gain the smaller concepts of this dance style. However, each page also has sections in smaller writing that go more in depth in case you want to know more about the subject which is great for older kids and adults. I like that Ballet doesn't just talk about the dance style but other elements such as famous dancers and technical work of performance (light, set design, costumes). It also gives great advice on how to watch a ballet by explaining the difference between contemporary ballet and classical ballet. I highly recommend this to everyone interested in learning to dance or even people that just enjoy watching dance. 

Short Story of The Week - Rumpelstiltskin

Story Title: Rumpelstiltskin

Authors: The Brothers Grimm

Summary

A miller's daughter makes a trade with an imp in order to become the wife of a king.

My Thoughts

I am particularly interested in Grimm's fairy tales at the moment. I've kind of made in my plan to read as many of the stories as I can. Today I decided to start with Rumpelstiltskin simply because I haven't read it in some time. I actually started off the morning reading it and I have to say it was a fun way to start the day. There really isn't a lot to the story. Fairy tales often get right to the point with out using flowery language or a ton of character developement. However, the benefit of that is that it was a quick read that made me feel like I was using my brain cells. I totally forgot the Rumpelstiltskin gets ripped in half at the end of the tale. Gross! Ha ha! I guess I see why I might have blocked the ending out. Otherwise, it's an interesting story. It is also a fun one to study on Wikipedia. Actually most Grimm's tales are if you are into looking things like that up on the internet. 

Short Story of The Week (64) - Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind

Story Title: Why Mr. Cropper Changed His Mind

Author: Lucy Maud Montgomery

Summary

Ester must find a clever way to prove to Mr. Cropper that is capable of being a school teacher for his two ill behaved sons. 

My Thoughts

I had completely forgotten that I had this collection of short stories by Lucy Maud Montgomery on the Kindle App. on my phone. I'm so glad I remembered because this story was both sweet and clever. I loved that it had a lot of snappy dialogue. This story also celebrates girl power in an underlying way. Sometimes we forget until we read something that was written in 1903 that women weren't always considered equal with men. The main character, Ester, really had to cook up a well meaning scheme to prove that she could teach a class of students just as well as anyone. Overall, I generally enjoyed this. It's a very quick read that made me smile. 

Short Story of the Week (63) - The Butterfly

Story Title: The Butterfly

Author: Hans Christian Andersen

Summary

A butterfly searches for a flower to be his bride.

My Thoughts

I'm still on the look out for a new short story book, but I figured until then Hans Christian Andersen will suffice. His stories are always at least entertaining. The Butterfly was an alright little tale. I felt like it didn't have much of a point. I thought the butterfly was really quite a silly character. However, the story amused me regardless, and the writing had a lyrical quality that I liked. This story was at least much happier than some of Andersen's works. In fact it's was much more joyful than any of the short stories I've read in the last few weeks. I need to find some funny short stories. 

Short Story of the Week (62) - The Highwayman

Story Title: The Highwayman

Author: Alfred Noyes

Summary 

The tragic tale of a Highwayman who is in love with an inn keeper's daughter.

Favorite Line

"And the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love's refrain"

My Thoughts

Technically this is a poem but it's a longer story poem. I think it still counts as a short story. I was struck by a mood to read this in it's entirety for the first time. I've read and heard excerpts of it several times, but I have never read the whole thing. Luckily The Highwayman is one of those poems that is easily found on the internet. Shiny! I have to say that this poem is awesome. It's incredibly depressing and poignant, but definitely awesome. I love the rhythms and the imagery. The Highwayman  is completely worth reading.  

Short Story of the Week (61) - Ice

Story Title: Ice

From: The Rose and the Beast

Author: Francesca Lia Black

Summary

A woman is heartbroken when the man she loves is enchanted by an ice queen.

Favorite Line

"He is too perfect. Like an angel carved on a tomb. If you try to keep something so perfect, you get only silent stone."

My Thoughts

I'm not completely sure but I believe that Ice is a modern re-telling of Han Christian Anderson's fairy tale The Snow Queen. I've never read the original tale, but I enjoyed Francesca's interpretation of it. I just love how poetic her writing style is. This story is a little sad. However, I got a hint at the very end that maybe there was hope. The build of the story kept me interested all the way through. Overall, Ice was a intriguing and enjoyable way to spend part of my afternoon reading.  

Short Story of The Week (60) - Nothing Hurts for Long

Story Title: Nothing Hurts for Long 

From: The Doll

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Summary

A woman prepares for her husband's long awaited return. When he comes back she finds that he is much changed.

Favorite Line

"It's all right, nothing hurts for long."

My Thoughts

I found Nothing Hurts for Long slightly sad. There's no death in it or anything. It's just that I hate to see people disappointed. The woman in this story definitely was on the edge of feeling deep sadness and disappointment. This story surprised me with it's ability to pull at my hearts strings. Daphne wrote it in a way that made it easy to connect with the emotions of the narrator. I liked it even though it was on the somber side. It was kind of like listening to a sad song, and I love listening to sad songs. 

Short Story of The Week (59) - The Exterminator's Daughter

Story Title: The Exterminator's Daughter

From: Prom Nights from Hell

Author: Mag Cabot

Summary

Mary knows it's not easy being the daughter of an Exterminator (a.k.a Vampire Slayer). At least she has a date to prom. Well...if you call teaming up with the cute guy from history class to kill the son of Dracula a date that is. 

Favorite Line

"Life is full of mysteries, as my dad likes to say, many of which are wrapped up in enigmas."

My Thoughts

The Exterminator's Daughter was a whole bunch of fun. Not only did the plot move along quickly, but I can't resist any type of vampire related adventure. I liked the story was told from two different points of view. It gives the reader new insight on what other characters are thinking. Most of all I loved the humor in it. I'm a sucker for witty quips. I love wit and the characters are fond of being witty. I kept having to read the hilarious lines to my mom while reading it. This was a great lunch time read. It's fun, sweet, and has vampire action. It made me smile. 

By the way my loves the book review is in the works. I was going to post it on the weekend but every time I looked my parents were trying to fix the computer that I use for my dictation software. When I tried to work on it elsewhere I kept getting focused on my research for the post. There are a lot of interesting facts for Alice in Wonderland. I've got to narrow it down some. Well, I have to run and teach 3 to 5 year-olds. Keep it shiny all!

Short Story of The Week (58) - Water's Edge

Story Title: Water's Edge

From: Half-Human

Author: Janni Lee Simner

Summary

Laura discovers a family secret which explains why the sea calls to her.

Favorite Line

"There was so much she had to learn, if she really wanted to live in both worlds."

My Thoughts

Water's Edge centers around the folk legend of Selkies. Mythological creatures that are seals that can shed their skin and become human. I've always found this folklore interesting, so I was very drawn to the story. You just don't see that many modern tales about this creature. From what I've read most Selkie tales are on the sad side, but this one was fairly heart warming. Maybe it was because Water's Edge was about self discovery instead of romantic tragedy. I thought I was just a generally enjoyable read. I only wish I could have read it on a sandy beach. That would have made the experience extra perfect.

Short Story of The Week (57) - Good Boys Deserve Favors

Story Title: Good Boys Deserve Favors

From: Fragile Things

Author: Neil Gaiman

Summary

Young boy attempts learn to play the double bass. 

Favorite Line

"Good double bass players, he told me, were men who made poor husbands."

My Thoughts

We all know that Neil Gaiman more often than not writes fantasy or science fiction tales. This story is neither of those things, but equally as magical. It is a simple tale about a small boy and his sort of lazy interest in playing an instrument. I think the simplicity of it was what I liked it about it. I mean I love a crazy story too. Yet, sometimes when it's late at night, and you're chilling in front of the TV you want a reflective story like this to read. It was pretty adorable and smile worthy. I thought it was very clever that the title came from one of the many mnemonics for the line notes in bass clef: Good Boys Deserve Favors Always.

Short Story of The Week (56) - A Difference In Temperament

Story Title: A Difference In Temperament

From: The Doll

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Summary

A couple struggles to cope with each others difference of temperaments. 

Favorite Line

"They were on two different planes. In the universe that were two stars, she far higher, burning with a steady light, but he flickering, unsteadily, always a little ahead-and in the end falling to earth, a momentary streak in the sky."

My Thoughts

This was an intriguing story about a relationship. It studies a couple who love each other but can't figure out how to really be together. One of the them wants to share everything, and the other just wants to have some time to themselves once in a while. They often interpret each other's actions in the wrong way. Even though it's a relationship story it still has a nice build that keeps you reading. It is so thoughtful and poignant that I couldn't help but enjoy it. I thought it was an excellent and striking character study. 

Short Story of The Week (55) - The House On Maple Street

Story Title: The House On Maple Street

From: Nightmares & Dreamscapes

Author: Stephen King

Summary

The Bradbury children make a very strange discovery on the third floor of their home.

My Thoughts

This story seemed to be kind of on the long side, but it was worth taking the time to read. It's a science fiction story. I haven't read a sci-fi short story in a while. That made it extra fun. I loved the development of the main characters. There was a lot of intrigue and a great build up in the plot.  I always like how Stephen King writes children. He always seem to capture childhood so well. I loved that it had something close to a happy ending. That just made me smile. 

Short Story of The Week (54) - The Fir Tree

Story Title: The Fir Tree

Author: Hans Christian Anderson

Summary

A young fir tree wishes to grow up quickly and understand the meaning of his life.

Favorite Line

"Had I but rejoiced when I had reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!"

My Thoughts

It's almost Christmas. Hence I wanted to read a holiday type short story. I didn't know of many though. Except for The Gift of The Magi which I reviewed last year. Thankfully there is such a thing as the computer search engine. Haha! I found this little fairy tale on a website and you can read it for free. You can't beat free and you also can't beat cute. This story was most certainly cute and a little bitter sweet as well. I find that the few Hans Christian Anderson stories I've read are often like that. Partly because that are often very allegorical. I think the message of The Fir Tree is that we rarely realize how happy we are until we get older or the moment is long past. Sometimes we forget to take time to enjoy our youth or our happiness while it is happening. Sometimes it's best not to want to grow up to fast. It's a really wonderful message. I also simply enjoyed the fact that Hans humanized trees, sun beams, various animals. Very adorable. If you think you might like this story check it out. Here is the link: The Fir Tree.

On a side note. Thanks to everyone for putting up with my drop off the face of the earth last week. I was working on the holiday dance show and of course insanity ensued. In a surprisingly good way of course. Then I got sick and all I could do was read and watch TV on Monday and Tuesday. I'm better now and hope to have at least one holiday book review up by Christmas Eve. Going to start working on that today after I read a few more pages of my book. Keep it shiny my loves!

Short Story of The Week (53) - The Corsage

Story Title: The Corsage

From: Prom Nights From Hell

Author: Lauren Myracle

Summary

A teenage girl gains possession of a corsage which is said to be able to grant three wishes, but every wish come with a great price.

My Thoughts

I knew that I would like The Corsage as soon as I read the note from the author at the beginning. The note stated that she based this story on the 1902 story The Monkey's Paw, which apparently scared her silly. I didn't only enjoy the actually story Lauren Myracle created. I loved the personalities of the characters. I thought it was wonderful that she addes some teen culture details into the story to make them behave young people and like things that "real" teens like. This made the characters believable even the the circumstances were certainly supernatural. This was a lovely read indeed. 

Short Story of The Week (52) - The Doll

Story Title: The Doll

From: The Doll: The Lost Short Stories

Author: Daphne du Maurier

Summary

Man discovers that the woman that is the object of his obsession has an object of obsession of her own. 

Favorite Line

"You fill me with a kind of horror, a devastating hate that is akin to love -- a hunger that is nausea."

My Thoughts

I found The Doll a very compelling story. I also found it very unsettling.  The story is written as if a doctor (can only assume that he is a psychologist) is publishing the faded journal of a nameless man on the verge of a breakdown. Since the journal is fade in places it often leaves out parts of the narrative where it writing is claimed to be illegible. This only severed to be more unsettling to the reader. It left you feeling a little lost, but in a good way because the narrator is a little lost as well. In fact there is quite a bit of confusion written in to the story. It made you feel like you were going crazy along with this nameless guy who has become deeply obsessive over this woman (who is ironically named Rebecca, though I don't think this story has any relation to Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same title.) 

I found Rebecca herself quite troubling. Her description gives you that terrifyingly beautiful vibe. She definitely draws this guy to her in a very strange almost mystical manner that was kind of creepy. It the end I think what I think when the parts that involved the actual "doll" that gave me the wiggins the most. I won't tell you much about it, because it would ruin the story for you. Most of it is implied which of course makes you imagine that everything is much worse that it is. I always think it's great when authors do that. Daphne did an awesome job at creating a mood and making the feelings in the story very tangible. Even though I did find The Doll disturbing is was almost deliciously so. Thus,  I have to say that I kind of liked it despite it's weirdness.  

Short Story of The Week (51) - Price of Desire

Story Title: Price of Desire

From: White Swan, Black Swan

Author: Adrienne Sharp

Summary 

James considers the conflicts of his life and his dancing, and wonders if he should join the New York City Ballet where his sister dances.

My Thoughts

I know this is a very belated short story this week. I had a rather sleepless night and I had my private ballet class today. Then I had to go a buy props for the upcoming Christmas show. I found the perfect stuff. Anyway, it's been a dancing type of week so I read a dancing type of story. Prince of Desire was very thought provoking. I like seeing the way that Adrienne wrote male characters since the stories I've read in this book previously have had lead characters that were women. Overall, I really enjoyed this. 

Short Story of The Week (50) - Linnea

Story Title: Linnea

From: Half-Human

Author: D.J. Malcolm

Summary

Linnea finds herself kidnapped by a half man half shark sea god, and in thus makes many discoveries about herself. Firstly is a mermaid and secondly her father was once a sea god.

My Thoughts

Well, it's seems like all my young dance students can talk about is mermaids. Somehow I think that made me want to read a mermaid story. This one is different from any one that I have read. It was also very action packed for a short story. There were so many surprise reveals, chases, and even a tiny bit of fighting. I have to say that I enjoyed it immensely.  

Short Story of The Week (49) - Hell on Earth

Story Title: Hell on Earth

From: Prom Nights From Hell

Author: Stephenie Meyer

Summary

Low level demoness seeks to single-handedly destroy high school prom. However, an angelic spirited boy may throw a wrench in her plans.

Favorite Line

"Was there no way to avoid the horrible wonder of love? That wasn't very likely when you were in an angel's arms."

My Thoughts

The time had come for me to get a new short story book. I was in need of something fresh to sink my imagination into. The title and theme of this short story collection intrigued me, so I thought it would take a look at it. Of course, I had to read Stephenie Meyer's contribution to this collection of tales about supernatural hellish proms first. I thought Hell on Earth was very creative with it's wacky spin on biblical mythology. The story transitions to different view points of major and minor characters throughout. I like it when authors do this especially in short stories. I think it not only makes the story interesting, but it builds the story quickly. I also think using this technique helped demonstrate the havoc that was being caused during the prom.  I really enjoyed the dialogue as well. The story is on the long side but totally worth taking the time to read. Overall, I thought Hell on Earth was pretty darn awesome. Aside from the fact that Stephanie Meyer still could not steer away from using her favorite word "chagrin" at least a couple times. Is it just me, or did she or did she not use that word billions of times in the Twilight series? Seriously, she is addicted to the word chagrin. 

See you all later when I do my reading update. By the way, I do have several ideas for actual book reviews. I'm thinking I'm going to review The Catcher in the Rye next. I just have to be able to sit still or put a book down long enough to actually write a review. Ha ha! Keep it shiny darlings. 

Short Story of The Week (48) - Bones

Story Title: Bones

From: The Rose and The Beast

Author: Francesca Lia Block

Summary

Run away party girl has a run in with a not so nice semi-psychotic guy at a party.

Favorite Line

"I tried to speak but the enchantment had seeped into my mouth like choking electric blue frosting from a cake."

My Thoughts

I kind of just grabbed the first short story book I saw on my way out the door this week. It worked out though because I was kind of in the mood for a fairy tale or a fairy tale re-told this week. Bones is actually based on the folktale Bluebeard. Admittedly it was a tale I didn't know much about until reading this short story. Thank goodness for Wikipedia. I looked it up right away. It's quite the little horror story. Which meant there was a horror twist to Bones when Francesca Block modernized the original tale. The good part of both tales is that they both surprisingly end well. Everybody likes it when the main character wins. I loved that Bones was written with such sensory language. It added to the connection with the narrator. I think it was possibly my favorite story out of this book that I've read so far. I keep forgetting to check some more of Francesca's books out. Hmm...maybe I'll write myself a note to look for some tonight.

Short Story of The Week (47) - Sorry, Right Number

Story Title: Sorry, Right Number

From: Nightmares & Dreamscapes.

Author: Stephen King

Summary

Author's wife gets a mysterious call.

Favorite line

"Bad to buy trouble before you know it's on sale."

My Thoughts

"Sorry, Right Number" differs from other short stories in the way that is written in screenplay format. It's unusual format to find in a short story book, but nonetheless it is quite fun to read. The screenplay format made the imagery seem more prevalent. The story leans more towards being a time warp story than a Stephen King's normally creepy tales. Not that it doesn't have a certain level scare factor involved. As usual I enjoyed that and it came around to where this story started from. I really love the directions the tale took the reader in. I would definitely read it again. A great story for easy late night reading.