Friday Wish-List

Recently we got a movie from NetFlix called City of Ember. It was good, but it was the sort of good that makes you wonder where the idea for the movie came from. So I did a little research and came to discover that it's actually a book--a series of books.

My eight year old daughter and I were excited with this news so we went down to the library to see if they had a copy of it. They don't. Well, okay they used to but someone destroyed it and now it's 'in repair.'

We waited for a few weeks, we put it on 'hold' and waited some more... nothing. Every time we went to the library my daughter would check on it, then leave sad. I finally broke down and bought it.

"Paperback or hardback?" the lady asked me.

"Paperback!" Heaven knows I can't afford the entire series in hardback.

My daughter consumed this book! Ate it up in only a few days.

But don't be turned off because my eight year old read it, she's read the first three Harry Potters (and would keep going if I hadn't stopped her).

I'm sufficiently intrigued and plan to read City of Ember when I get the chance (key words: get the chance).

Are you sick of my ramblings? Do you want a little about the book now?

From Jeanne DuPrau's website:

Lights shine in the city of Ember—but at the city limits the light ends, and darkness takes over. Out there in the Unknown Regions, the darkness goes on forever in all directions. Ember—so its people believe—is the only light in the dark world.
And now the lights are going out.

Have I mentioned that I'm intrigued by end of the world books? I am and as far as the movie goes, this is right up that alley. As the world was 'ending' (cause unknown) a group of people were sent underground to wait out whatever the calamity was. They were given a box that would open in 200 years and lead them out. Well the 200 years are up and the underground city is beginning to fall apart. The adults are in various forms of denial (yes, aren't we all) and it's up to the kids to save the last remnants of the human race.

One comment on Amazon describes this book as:

The (barely) three page prologue sets a splendid dramatic tension for the story. We know that something is afoot, that there is more to Ember than Ember, and that empowers us, to a certain extent - like when you're watching a movie and you know something that the characters don't. -Jonathan Appleseed

I'm informed that, like all book/movie combos, the book has some major differences. So, naturally, I can't wait to pop it open and find out for myself.

Have you read it? What did you think?

Book: City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau