2016 books: Simon Thorn and the Wolf's Den, Thimble Summer, Cat Running | Game: Sundew Valley

[thistlechaser]

Three failed books in a row. Blah! I didn't reach the 50% point on any of them, so none of them count towards my total for the year.

Thimble Summer by Elizabeth Enright
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



I was excited when I spotted this ebook. I remember reading Thimble Summer as a child, and it was the first audio book I ever listened to. I still clearly remember the woman's voice crying out "Thimble summer! Thimble summer!" at the end of it.

But memory is a strange thing sometimes, and somehow my brain got the plot of this book (this childrens book) mixed up with the first online "adult" story I ever read. Not the sex part of the story, but somehow everything else that happened in the adult story I thought took place in this book. That made for quite a bit of confusion and then amusement once I realized my mistake.

Thimble Summer was set in the Depression era of early America, and told the story of a nine year old girl. First published in 1938, it's no wonder the text felt so dated and the story boring. Somehow my brain bringing in the plot elements of that adult story improved my memory of Thimble Summer -- the real version of the story was boring enough to not hold my attention at all, and I gave up on it at the 25% point.

Cat Running by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



After Thimble Summer, I picked a different book at random to try. What are the chances that I would pick another one set in the Depression era? Especially when this sort of thing is very much not to my reading tastes and I would have thought I didn't own a single book about that time, let alone two.

Though a modern book (published in the 90s), this book felt much the same as Thimble Summer. A young girl in the hot summer. She was a runner, but her father wouldn't let her wear "slacks" so she had to run in skirts. I read up to the 20% point, and though this was written by a "three-time Newbery Honor-winning author," the plot never seemed to get more complex than that.


Simon Thorn And The Wolf's Den by Aimée Carter
Rating: Disliked (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)



This book was SUCH a disappointment. I was saving it for when I'd need a good book to read. It was exactly to my tastes, I thought it would work for me...

In it a boy was able to talk to animals, and eventually learned he has the power to transform into them. Blah blah big plot, he has to save the world. The plot wasn't what mattered so much to me, but talking to animals? Sign me up!

Unfortunately this was an example of a really bad YA book -- the writing was so immature, the writer had no trust in her readers, the adults were generally bad/untrusting just because they were adults in a YA story, etc.

Currently reading: A Fisherman of the Inland Sea (short stories) by Ursula K. Le Guin.

Stardew Valley: I think I've finally played enough that I don't feel the need to play it every free moment. I'm up to early winter now. I reached the bottom level of the mines and opened Skull Dungeon. Unlocked the desert. Completed most of the bundles (except the greenhouse one *sob*). I guess I'm going to do the last upgrade on my house next and then get the horse.

This screenshot amused me. I fish a lot. NPC was standing there, staring at me, making notes. He claimed he was taking scientific readings on the river, but I think he was more interested in a death knight fishing.



It's strange, but when you're playing, you don't really notice how bad the graphics are. But in a screenshot? I boggle that I (who value graphics so much) play it.

Comments

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I saw the 'Simon Thorn' book today at work, it's actually cataloged as Childern's for us even though Aimee Carter usually write YA. Maybe she was trying to "write down" and screwed it all up? Bummer too, has a very cool cover.

LOL yeah Stardew Valley isn't the most shiny game, but it is pretty in it's own way. I love trying to interpret the pixelated face of my girl as she expresses her emotionos. :) And then Tim is behind me playing Witcher 3 which is beautiful LOL.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I did wonder if it was children's instead of YA. It was grade 5-8 I think, but I couldn't translate in my head what ages that was, and gave up before googling. It did feel like a children's book more than a YA one, so maybe that was it.

Yeah, it really is attractive in its own way! I love the greens of springtime. :)

[teaandfailure.livejournal.com]

I like to think Haken really does get a ! over his head every time he catches a fish because it never gets old. Every time he's like, "I caught another fish. Fish are dumb animals. They fall for it every time. I keep thinking they will learn, but they do not."

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

*rolls* That's so his thought process! He used to help the villagers catch fish for the turtles (with nets mostly), so he's no newcomer to dumb fish. :D

[socksofjello.livejournal.com]

It's strange, but when you're playing, you don't really notice how bad the graphics are. But in a screenshot? I boggle that I (who value graphics so much) play it.

Stardew Valley's graphics are a tremendous turn-off for me. As someone who loves pixel art and really appreciates well-done spritework, auuuugggh.

I know most everyone finds it fun, but woof. Someday someone'll make a mod that fully overhauls the game's appearance, and on that day I'll be able to enjoy it without being distracted by how muddy and stiff it looks.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I'd love a mod like that! I really don't notice the graphics at all when I'm playing, but screenshots are really jarring in how ugly they look.

This game would be even more amazing with wonderful graphics...