Saturday, April 21, 2012

Readathon: That 4th Hour


Pages read:  32

Snack:  1 banana.

Thoughts:  Bullfighting is not my thing, but the writing in Shadow of a Bull is beautiful.  Another thing that keeps me reading is that I'm worried about Manolo.  Everyone in the small Spanish village of Arcangel, even his mother, seems determined that he shall go into the ring and meet his first bull at the age of twelve.  If The Higher Power of Lucky was Steinbeck for the peanut gallery, then Shadow of a Bull is its Hemingway.   I admire it because in no way is the young reader being talked down to in a cloying tone.  Yeah, Kate DiCamillo, I'm looking at you.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's with the bananas?? Don't you have any chocolate? ;)

Jeane said...

Ooh, I've read this book! In fact, I think I have a copy. I hardly ever come across Maia W's books (how do you pronounce her last name??) but I've liked every single one I've read.