It may possibly be the absolute best book I've read this year. I found it at Wal-Mart and bought it because it was written by Kate DiCamillo, who also wrote The Tale of Despereaux. She's one of the authors whose books I always buy, no questions asked, and she never disappoints me. I wish I could write as well as she does. Let me share with you a few tidbits of TME, and you'll see what I mean.
Leo Matienne had the soul of a poet, and because of this, he liked very much to consider questions that had no answers.
He liked to ask, "What if?" and "Why not?" and "Could it possibly be?"
Leo came to the top of the hill and paused. Below him, the lamplighter was lighting the lamps that lined the wide avenue. Leo Matienne stood and watched as, one by one, the globes sprang to life.
What if the elephant had come bearing a message of great importance?
What if everything was to be irrevocably, undeniably changed by the elephant's arrival?
Leo stood at the top of the hill and waited for a long while, until the avenue below him was well and fully lit, and then he continued walking down the hill and onto the lighted path, toward his home.
He whistled as he walked.
What if? Why not? Could it be? sang the glowing, wondering heart of Leo Matienne.
What if?
Why not?
Could it be?
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I haven't read all that many of her books but I've loved the ones I have read. I really like her writing style and word pictures. I, also, love it when you find authors that you know you'll love any of their books!
ReplyDeleteI think by this point, I may well have read all of her books. I have five of them in my room, at least, and I have yet to hear of others. I was going to say that my two favorites of hers are "The Magician's Elephant" and "The Tale of Despereaux," but then I started thinking about "The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane," which got me thinking about "The Tiger Rising" and "Because of Winn-Dixie."
ReplyDeleteWhat authors do you like?