Rating: Summary: Wonderfully Auccurate and Fun! Review: When I first read this book in jr high I Hated it but havingjust finished reading it again (7 years later) I love it.In Birdie,Karen Cushman created a charater that is not your typical Arthurin heorine with long flowing hair, lovely girdled gowns and handsome knights swooning courtly love but an everyday girl of the middle ages. Birdie is throughly human, swearing oaths, dumping unfinished embroidery down the privy, getting freckled and wondering about life. Mrs. Cushman weaves a realistic story while teaching you a history lesson. This is the best kind of historical fiction and the very best way to learn history. It's a story that teaches AND entertains at the same time. For those of you who think history is boring this is a must read!
Rating: Summary: As good if not better then the midwifes aprentice Review: Karen Kushman really out did herself in this book. All the charechtors human and you either love them or hate them for that.She wrote the words down in the vividness the a girl catherines age would have used. And since this book was written in diary form that is great. Even if you don't like reading diaries it is written in such a way that you could probably enjoy anyway. The plot went at a good pace not to slow and not to fast. You definitely will find the book very enjoyable and you will find nothing that you can take offence of in this book. A must read for girls 10-14.
Rating: Summary: Good, funny, book! Review: Catherine is a gal with an attitude. Not only does she stick upfor what she believes in, but she does it humorously. Unlike othergirls in the time, she refuses to marry some dumb idiot who only wants her for status and even tells her jerk of a father. He persists and so does she, by getting rid of one suitor after the other. Catherine changes, and becomes more mature by the end of the book, after some of the experiences she has gone through, but she is still the same witty, Birdy. For the readers who expect a polished book that is unrealistic, and doesn't stay true to how barbaric the people were back then, should get a life. What do you expect? Some reviewers went on and on about how her father was a violent man and who would often hurt Catherine, and that is not for children. Children should know that many fathers back then would beat and harass their children, because they only saw their children as things that could make them richer. Catherine, Called Birdy is a realistic book that shows that life back then was harsh and unsympathizing. This book stays true to how life was. More mature children could read this book, and understand it better than many younger kids.
Rating: Summary: The Big Yawnnn! Review: This book I found extremely vulgar, and horrific. The diary techinque should not have been used in this book. It was very confusing to follow. If this book had not been a school assisgnment, I would have dropped it in the trash, after the first chapter. This book I found absolutly horrible, I did however enjoy The Midwife's Apprentice. I don't know what went wrong during the writing process of this book. This book was dull, boring, and vulgar, don't waste your money.
Rating: Summary: What a great view of Medieval life! Review: Birdy is the fourteen-year-old daughter of a knight and the sister of a monk, who has taught her to read and write, and suggested "that writing this account of my days will help me grow less childish and more learned..." At first her accounts are short: "12th Day of September: I am bit by fleas and plagued by family. That is all there is to say." and "16th Day of September: Spinning. Tangled. 17th Day of September: Untangled." until her mother bargains that Birdy may forgo spinning as long as she is writing. On the 21st Day of September: "Something is astir. I can feel my father's eyes following me about the hall, regarding me as he would a new warhorse or a bull bought for breeding. I am surprised that he has not asked to examine my hooves. And he asks me questions.... This morning: 'Exactly how old are you, daughter?' This forenoon: ' Have you all your teeth?' 'Is your breath sweet or foul?' 'Are you a good eater?' 'What color is your hair when it is clean?' Before supper: 'How are your sewing and your bowels and your conversation?' What is brewing here?" Then she finds out: "I must take lady-lessons and keep my mouth shut.... my father, the toad, conspires to sell me like a cheese to some lack-wit seeking a wife." And so we live with Birdy "this life of hemming and mending and fishing for husbands," and hear about her friends the goat boy and Lady Aelis, her brother who comes home from the Crusades, herbs and doctoring, hangings, ale head, saints' days, cleaning out the privy, soap-making... normal life in a manor. CATHERINE, CALLED BIRDY may not have grand adventures or non-stop action, but Birdy is sharp and witty and the reader can certainly sympathize with her troubles. Some of the humor is crude and scatological, but I think that is part of the realism Ms. Cushman brings to her novel--while the author does note that Birdy is unusual in not consenting to a marriage arranged by her parents, in every other way the reader gets an accurate and lively picture of medieval life. Though written primarily for a young adult (age 12 and up) audience, this 35-year-old girl enjoyed every page, and is now seeking the author's other works. This book has won several awards, including the Newbery, and when you read it, you will see why. A definite 5 out of 5. Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews
Rating: Summary: Catherine Called Birdy Review: I really liked this book. It entertained as well as taught. When I read this book about a girl in the Elizabethan times and how she was betrothed to someone she didn't like at an age all together too young I felt like I was there reading her journal. I really enjoyed this book and recomend it to anyone with an imagination and a little pity for a sad girl.
Rating: Summary: Gotta be something better out there-ZERO STARS Review: I give this book ZERO, I repeat, ZERO STARS as a teaching tool because the informative portions of the book are so overshadowed by violence, crass behavior, and vulgar language. The diary format was a bad choice. It does not allow for description or explanation of daily chores such as soap-making or sewing; or the origins of common medievel terms(see 1st of Nov, ie. piss) now considered vulgar; or descriptions and uses of various pieces of clothing such as the kirtle(see 1st day of July). Because of the diary format descriptions of violence common in the 1200's are not accompanied by explanations of why such violence may have been considered acceptable then, but not now. The source(s) for the 'book of saints' referenced though most of the book should have been listed in a bibliography. Some of the 'saint' quotes are innappropriate for classroom reading (ie:"28th of Jan. Saint John the Sage....stabbed to death by his students; 5th of Feb...Saint Agatha... tortured by rods, rack, and fire and finally had her breasts cut off; and others.) The constant reminders of how much Catherine hates her father, even considering poisoning him(see 11th of May), and his regular physically violent behavior toward her and others (see 21st of Sept, and others)is disturbing. The Author's Note at the end of the book is the only part of the book I found useful. It should have been placed at the beginning of the book as a preface. I do not recommend using this book in the classroom to teach about Medieval times. Students capable of indepth research necessary to explain Medievel language, activities, and social norms mentioned in this book will probably be bored by the book's lack of depth. I repeat - There has got to be something else out there. I will keep searching.
Rating: Summary: I wish I could give this book ten stars Review: I read this book when I was eight, and I have since read it so many times my book has nocover and the pages are falling out. It has a great plot and is very humorous. It's very satisfing if you are one of those people who hates every story about nice polite women in history. This is the best book I have read.
Rating: Summary: LOVED IT! Review: Catherine, Called Birdy is one of the best books I've ever read! It had a wonderful plot, with just enough subtle humor to make it a delightful read. Wonderful all the way upto the very last word. I recommend this book VERY highly!
Rating: Summary: Cathrine, Called Birdy Review: At first I found this book kind of weird because of how she explained her views on life. But as i read the book I started to understand them. It was a good book that I recommend people who are studing the ways of the dark ages read. It explains what the women of those times went through. The author really captured what she intended to. This is a good book that people in all grades would enjoy reading.
|