Book Report April 2014

Dream Park by Larry Niven and Steven Barnes

I read this book many years ago, but reading it again was just as enjoyable as the first time. It was written in 1981, so it’s a bit dated as far as tech goes, but I loved it. It’s about a theme park that is basically a venue for serious RPG players in holodeck-like settings. It’s the future, so it’s sci-fi, but it’s also a darn good mystery and who-done-it. I found out that this was a series and there are 3 more books that I now have to track down.

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The Christmas Key by Emily Thomas

Another in the Blue Hill Library series. This was about a mysterious ring found in the Advent Cabinet at church during the pre-Christmas season. Good story line. And I loved the idea of the Advent Cabinet.

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Mr. De Luca’s Horse by Marjorie Paradis

This was a kids book that I’d gotten years ago and finally got around to reading. Great little story. I think a lot of adults would enjoy this as well. A young boy wants to buy the junk-man’s old horse when he finds out that the man is going to retire. The boy does all sorts of jobs to earn money to buy and house the horse. Even though the book is pretty dated (1966) it’s still a good story.

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Goody Hall by Natalie Babbitt

Odd little book by the author of Tuck Everlasting. Quirky story with quirky characters. Written in 1971, so it’s dated, but a good story nonetheless. An out-of-work actor comes to Goody Hall to be tutor to the young master. Just really weird people in this book. Bizarre ending. You gotta read it if you want to know more.