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Summary: A Puzzle of a Book!
Review: The View from Saturday is like a mysterious puzzle with lost pieces that are found and fit together with every turn of the page! Because of the style in which this book is written, I think this book is an excellent tool to illustrate perspective and point of view. I am an elementary teacher and I am considering using this book in my classroom. This is a book that both the young, and young-at-heart will enjoy!
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Summary: Special Gift
Review: The View from Saturday There is absolutely nothing sweeter than the final outcome in the act of competing. Sparked by hard work and desire, it is said that we strive to win not as an individual, but as a team. Four students from Epiphany Middle School learn what it takes to work as one and really live life to its fullest. To them, winning the academic bowl championship isn't everything, just the sheer fact of friendship and meshing together every Saturday evening to have tea, is enough. These four students, more properly known as "The Souls," are all very different, and in many ways share different personalities. Though in fact, this uniqueness is what makes them so similar and alike in much more exotic and distinctive ways. The relationship they have with each other is as close as the time they are to be seated every week at four o'clock for tea. Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian, all share something in common, whether it being that Noah was the best man at Nadia's grandfathers wedding, Ethan being the grandson of the woman Nadia's grandfather married, or if it's just that destiny reeled in the fourth person to fill in the empty seat at the coffee table, they all became The Souls and will forever stay The Souls. Miss. Olinski, was to pick her team that would carry out victory in the end, and as if not even aware of it at the time, it would be all four Souls chosen. A coincidence? No. But Fate? Definitely. The only question is, did fate mean to bring the teacher to be with the kids, or for the kids to be with the teacher? The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg is a very moral book that is written with great creativity. Unlike most of the styles today's authors write with, there's much suspense in the almost biblical journey these four students make. This realistic fiction novel is filled with description, revealing each character's personality, thoughts and feelings. What makes this book so realistic, is the switches between point of view, and the actual story. It flows from one scene to the next better and more aesthetically than any other book I have read. The author creates a wonderful setting, especially in the tea house where The Souls unite and reveal their lives to one another. It really sets the mood, and is why I find the tea house meetings my favorite parts as being quiet and very peaceful. Miss. Olinski never really knew kindness until meeting the Souls. She was never really sure as to why she picked this team, until she learned kindness and knew what it was like to lose it again but really "You must know of something's existence before you can notice its absence." If Miss. Olinski never knew what kindness was, how would she know she didn't have any? The Souls present a special gift to their teacher/coach Miss. Olinski, making this book a must read about learning the great gifts one can offer to another
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Summary: A bit confusing, but very good
Review: This book was not the best book I have ever read. I think that it's problem was how confusing the plot was. Otherwise, I totally enjoyed the book, and I recommend it to 6th graders, maybe 5th. I also think one of the problems was that I read it in 4th grade. I am willing to try it next year, though.
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Summary: A great book, full of twists and turns
Review: This was an excellent book. It was very tricky and mind-boggling,the kind of book I prefer. You sense the feelings of the characters, like the dullness of Ethan, the strangeness of Julian, and the thoughtfulness of Noah. This book has a good example of a "small world". If you liked this book, you might want to read Holes by Louis sachar or Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech.
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Summary: This is a book that will inspire everyone.
Review: I read this book and it touched me that these students found each other and shared a special friendship. It tells a beautiful story of friendship and family. I recommend everyone gets this book for their children.
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Summary: Interesting and Brilliant!!
Review: I think that this has to be one of the best books I have read. E.L. Konigsburg is a fabulous author who writes extraordianry novels for all ages to enjoy. I loved to read about how 4 very different children came together to make a team and prevailed. It teaches a very good moral that everyone is equal. At least, that's what I got out of this book, and I'm sure you would too. It's a must read.
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Summary: Beautifully written, once you understand it!
Review: This book was wonderful, but you had to understand how it was written first. Because the POV changed often, it became confusing, but when I got to Julian's POV, I began to understand. It helps if you reread this book to fully understand it, like I did. Otherwise, I found myself reading this whenever I got the chance. My Language Arts teacher probably thought I was nuts when I finished it in two days! I really liked how the author described each event and the characters, and I would reccommend this to anyone who wants a REALLY good read!
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Summary: E.L. Koingsburg has made a wonderful mixture of stories
Review: Reading is an art, and E.L Koingsburg is an artist. The four stories weaved together to make a fantatic story of wit and fate. I fell in love with the characters after I read each of their tales. The characters seemed so real and I imagined I was in the setting. It was hard to dechipher so you must be a sharp reader. I recomend this book to all the readers that have imaginations and sharp minds.
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Summary: It was really good, but a little confusing.
Review: The View from Saturday was really interesting and fun to read. I read it once on my own, and once in school. There was alot of symbolisim and other things that I didn't understand untill I read it in school. The narration jumps around, and the meanings are confusing. I have read other books by E.L. Konigsburg, and they are all like that. The book is kind of funny, and I would suggest it to anyone over 6th grade.
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Summary: Marvelous characterizations, a few problems with plot
Review: The first thing I thought after putting down this book was, "dang, but I wish I'd been that mature when I was 11!" (I'm 17 now.) While Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian might inspire jealousy in some of us, these feelings quickly subside because the characters are so endearingly written -- although they are at times almost frighteningly mature, they remain sixth-graders at heart, and their personalities are distinct without resorting to stereotypes. Other characters are also wonderfully written; one of the most moving scenes in the book is when Mrs. Olinski is about to be consumed by jealousy and is rescued by Mr. Singh and tea. And on the side of comic relief, I have two words for you: Homer Fairbain. I'm on an academic team and the host of the show is so much like Mr. Fairbain it's terrifyingly funny. The book has a few problems with plot, though. I realize the children have a special bond, but there wasn't enough there in the book to make me really believe that they telepathically influenced Mrs. Olinski to pick them (which was, I believe, what Konigsberg intended). Also, I'm afraid I have to agree with the music teacher who hinted that Mrs. Olinski's method of picking her team was autocratic. I can't help feeling sorry for a member of that class who might have excelled on the team and wasn't given a chance to do so. The book would have lost very little if Mrs. Olinski had simply held tryouts and The Souls won them (no doubt that they could have). All around, however, a marvelous effort. You will come away loving, loving, loving these characters.
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