From: Beth Wright Redford <bethreader>
Date: Wed, 5 Nov 2008 09:52:04 -0800 (PST)

Sarah Dessen's novels aren't best known for their humor, but the author's funny scenes are real gems.? The barely controlled chaos and sarcastic interplay between the characters in the catering scenes in THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER? bring some needed levity to the book's otherwise serious themes.? In LOCK AND KEY, Dessen uses the classic "rule of three" by including three scenes of the protagonist's cheerful brother-in-law coercing his exasperated family into ever-more-over-the-top holiday celebrations.

And speaking of funny holiday scenes, Anne Fine's THE TRUE STORY OF CHRISTMAS is one of the funniest books I have ever read.? I cannot possibly do it justice in this forum except to say that it is set in England, it happens at an increasingly aggravating family get-together weekend, and it contains the line "My head feels like a lump of boiled owl."

Beth Wright Redford Youth Services Librarian Fletcher Free Library Burlington, Vermont









      
Received on Wed 05 Nov 2008 11:52:04 AM CST