Timewaster's Guide Archive
Departments => Books => Topic started by: charity on October 10, 2007, 04:55:55 PM
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Have you ever had a book that you just loved, and can't remember the title or author of? I've got several, mostly from my childhood, but it kills me. (I've started writing down all the books I read)
there was this one about a girl who goes to visit family for the summer, at some point early on she wants to get away for a while (or something) so she goes out onto the lake to this little island, (now I can't remember if there's ruins on the island or not) while she's there she finds this old pair of glasses and puts them on, only to discover they reveal what I remember as the ghosts of the island.
It was pretty good, but heck if I can put a title or author to it.
some other ones I love, and remember the names of, are
'The Case of the Vanishing Boy' by Alexander Key
'Dangerous Summer' by Carolyn G. Hart
they are so intertwined with my childhood that the nostalgia hits me like a hurricane when I pick up one of them.
How about you?
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I can remember a picture book that I loved. It didn't have any words, but it showed these little kids going to bed and then flying away on their pillows to magical places like a cloud castle and under the sea. I only have one sister to says she remembers the book too, but her memory isn't always reliable. I'm mostly sure this book existed though. I just wish I knew the title.
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It's painfully, i know, but if maybe we talk about them.... we'll be able to get past this... ;)
I had one like that too, I remember my neighbor friend 'reading' it to me and then when I was older and could read myself I realized she hadn't really read it at all. It was all castles and colors but the main character was a white horse... I loved that book.
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Sounds like a Chris Van Allsburg book.
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which one?
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I have no idea. But they are easily found in libraries. (But anyway I meant Sigyn's book.)
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Nope, this definitely wasn't a Van Allsburg. I'm very familiar with his books, and the style was completely different.
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Is there such a thing as a book search engine? Like you type in specific things about the book, flying carpet for example and get a list of books?
that'd be worth it, IMO
course I am a bit of a book freak...
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What kind of childhood are you talking about?
Elementary school?
Because I really liked the Magic Treehouse in 2nd grade and after that Harry Potter and Narnia.
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Can anybody please tell me where to find this book?:
I remember the word 'avacado' is in the title, like 'and the avacado of doom' or something (seriously). It was targeted to youngsters. It involves a villain who kills people with a stuffed Indian fruit bat, a crazy family with the daughter who dresses like a raver with a soundproof room where she blares her stereo for some illogical reason I can't remember, and the "greatest detective in the world" who hangs out at a malt shop.
The protagonist is a nine year old who sneaks out at night to go to the local movie theater with his best friend. They live in a weird town where people go to the park at night and give speeches at the park on a podium. As a matter of fact, everything happens at night. I recall thinking the buildings in the story would all look rather cartoonish. That book was freakin odd, and I loved it!
I think it's out of print (one of those cheap pulpy jobs sold in the eighties) and copies are probably rare.
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The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death by Daniel Pinkwater (and its sequel, the Snarkout Boys and the Baconburg Horror). There are several listings on Amazon, some in omnibus format. Seems there was also an audio theater version with Brent Spiner.
Daniel Pinkwater has some hilarious books.
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Just the other day, my husband said, "Daniel Pinkwater is like the literary equivalent of They Might be Giants." He's not a fan of random goofiness. I rather like it.
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Wow, I thought Avacado was some obscure cheapy succombed to the cruelty of time, but apparently everbody knows about it except me. To the googlemobile!
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LOL! Well, not everybody, I'm sure... I think Ookla and I read it together when he was a young'un. (Perhaps for the season I should change my title to "Mokfather's sister"?)
I recall the girl in it was called Rat, too, which should amuse you. ;D
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You could change your display name to 600-foot-tall Christmas Tree instead, to get into the seasonal mood.