No Pictures: Begin Again, Start In The Past

The following "reviews" were written in 1990. No attempt to repair them has been made. They remain as they were submitted for grading.

The Stand
By Stephen King

Larry Underwood and Rita Hawywood are together, and they are hiking out of the devastated town of New York City. They are walking along when Rita cries out in pain. Larry turns around and finds out that she was wearing sandals that chaffed through the skin on her feet. She started to bleed. Larry gets very angry. In real life, people would be angry with her. (Rita did feel discomfort, but she is so stupid that she said nothing.)

In this part, everyone who survived the disease goes to Mother Abigal's house. It is really dumb because Mother Abigal is a new character who is a real weirdo. She is really old, but supposedly can walk for miles and miles without tiring. That is absurd! I also dislike how this book is becoming a religious war.

I really like this part because it is the final standoff between the Dark Man versus Larry Underwood, Ralph Brenter, and Glen Bateman. They are all great characters. In a really dumb story, those three guys would be dead. Glen Bateman gets shot, but even then, he really does "beat" the Dark Man. Larry and Ralph are being prepared to be drawn and quartered, but Trashcan Man, a bad guy, comes along with an A-bomb. The A-bomb explodes and every single bad guy dies.

However, so do Larry and Ralph. So much for the good guys too.

Life, The Universe & Everything
By Douglas Adams

I don't understand this because it seems so strange! I am reading about how Ford, Arthur and Slaberfast are supposed to save the universe. It seems all jarbled up. However, it is very relieving to read about Marvin, the depressed robot, who is extremely funny. I think however, that if I read over the passage that I don't get, then I can understand it.

The character I most admire is Arthur Dent because throughout this series of books, Arthur has changed from a weak spirited guy to a gutsy, compassionate and kind person. He has done weird stuff, scary stuff and really dumb stuff. Now he takes on the challenge of being in the real world.

The Solid Gold Kid
By Norma Fox Frazer

I like this writing because it is articulate, and many emotions are very true to life. The characters are angry at the right times. However, the kidnappers are a bit fake. They are just stereotypical kidnappers. A man gets angry easily, and a woman really dislikes what she's doing. I think that it might be better if the woman got angry and the man hated crime.

The Kid In The Red Jacket
By Barbara Park

If I were Howard at this point, I would beat up this little six year old. She is annoying and nasty. For example, she says "Do you have a piano?" The answer is no. She says "Could you get one?" This girl is stupid and ridiculous. Why can't Howard just break her jaw? Then her mouth would be wired shut and I wouldn't have to read her silly comments. This may sound kind of sick though.

The Great Brain
By John D. Fitzgerald

I dislike The Great Brain because he is not always very nice and swindles people out of their money. He is always laying a guilt trip on his younger brother. He seemingly is only nice when he is going to get something out of it. He thinks that fighting is right, and he fights all the time.

Dear Bruce Springsteen
By Kevin Major

I dislike this idea because it doesn't tell the complete story. The real truth filters through what he says, and it comes out all jumbled up. The story should be told from an omniscient point of view, that would make it more understandable. Also, the slang is used to much. Words like "wicked" and "oh man" get pretty stale after a while.

Bunnicula
By James & Deborah Howe

I love this series of books. The Bunnicula books are great, and even though I read them so much long ago, they are not in the least bit old. I enjoy reading the story from Harold's point of view because he never gets too silly or dumb. The plot seems absurd but it is still very enjoyable. If a book was ever forced on a person and that book was a must to read, then Bunnicula would be the logical choice.

Manaic Magee
By Jerry Spinelli

I like this writing because it is funny, extravagent, outlandish and downright silly. The things Maniac does are possible but it is amazing he has the guts to do them. He is completely incredible. He is sometimes sad. I was disappointed when the old man died. I enjoyed the part where Amanda chewed him out. He sort of deserved it. I hope they write a sequel to this book.

-Tucker Stone, 1990

Thanks to Amy Lopp.

Comments

[Chris Jones]

Middle school? It feels in between 5th and 9th grade to me.

[Chris Jones]

And also, your writing is HELL OF extravagant even to this day :)

[Tucker Stone]

9th grade? How old do you think I am?

[Chris Jones]

Jesus, what a loaded question.

I assumed, like...late 20s early 30s? I meant that it seemed BEFORE 9th grade, 9th grade was never on the table for me.

[plok]

So that about sums it up, then. Very nice.

(However, my mind is BLOWN that you read "The Great Brain". And you're right about the fighting.)

[seth hurley]

no "I Am the Cheese"?

that book screwed with me as a kid, it was like a YA "One Flew Over the CucKoo's Nest" with none of the smothering giant Indians but twice the patricide.

[Bill Reed]

I didn't like Maniac Magee much, myself. Too depressing; the cover totally made it look more fun.

Life, the Universe, and Everything is totally the best of the trilogy. Of five. Or six, now.

[david brothers]

Bunnicula was the bomb, almost as good as the Wayside High School book.

[nrh]

Dear lord are you right about Bunnicula. Always hated Spinelli like the plague though.

[TimCallahan]

Tucker Stone is 157 years old, and he couldn't write for shit until he got his hands on the internet. Don't let him fool you with his Bunnicula nonsense. He read that book in galleys.

[Kenny Cather]

Bunnicula is one of the greatest series of books ever! Right along with The Cricket in Times Square series! Sideways Stories From Wayside School was awesome, too!