Alexis' Book Blog

Freddy and Mr. Camphor

By Walter R. Brooks

Book Review by Sandra Miller-Louden

3.5 out of 5 stars

Series Book/Children

Since the Freddy Series is found in the children’s section of the library, we’ll call it a children’s book for simplicity’s sake.  However, let me warn you, this series has a wide appeal for adults as well—as we’ll see later in my review.

If you’re not familiar with this series, here’s a quick overview.  There are 26 books in all written between 1927-1958 and they are all anthropomorphic—in other words, the main characters are all animals and they walk, talk and engage in human activities.  Chief among the animals is Freddy the Pig.  In various books Freddy travels (to Florida in one, to the North Pole in another), he opens a detective agency, starts a bank (First Animal Bank of Centerboro), runs a newspaper, goes aloft in a balloon, fights a critter known as an Ignormus and even becomes a caretaker in a mansion belonging to wealthy C. Jimson Camphor when Mr. Camphor is away on business.

And here is where Freddy and Mr. Camphor begins.  Things get complicated from the get go as destructive rats, crabby toads and loudmouth horseflies show up to derail Freddy’s planned peaceful summer of looking after the mansion, reading and engaging in one of his favorite pastimes, painting.  As if this array of animals isn’t enough, the evil—and smelly—Zebedee Winch and his equally disagreeable son Horace show up again, as they did in the very first Freddy book.  (Freddy and Mr. Camphor is Book #11, written in 1944).

Winch has underlying motives to get Freddy fired (chief among them is Winch would like a good pork dinner) from his job and when that happens, Freddy rallies all his friends from the Bean Family Farm (Freddy’s home base) to help make things right.  We see some old favorites in this book—Jinx the wily cat, Alice and Emma the prissy ducks, Charles the pompous rooster, Mr. & Mrs. Webb (you guessed it, married spiders with ever-so-teeny voices!) and my personal favorites, the Mrs. Wiggins, Wogus and Wurtzberger, three amiable (if slightly plodding) cows.

Certain unyielding themes are present in this series.  There is a firm line drawn between right and wrong.  Even when it could harm him in the short term, Freddy is always honest and tries to do the honorable thing.  If reading this series to a child, an adult can find many “teachable moments” to reinforce a point.  There are also subtle observations which author Brooks makes throughout—observations that undoubtedly will go over a child’s head, but will delight adults.  Brooks has little use for wordy people who say nothing and he makes no bones about the fact that he considers most politicians in that category.  In Chapter One, Mr. Weezer, the president of Centerboro Bank (the human being bank) wears “a pair of nose glasses that always fell off when anyone mentioned a sum of money larger than five dollars.”  The swipes that author Brooks takes are understated, but always entertaining. 

In fact, this series is so entertaining that when the series went out of print during the 1970s, many people mourned their loss and frequented old bookstores to find copies.  From a determined group of fans who stayed in touch with Brooks’ widow, a newsletter began in 1984 and The Friends of Freddy had their first convention two years later—and these conventions are still taking place—the next one is in September in upstate New York.  Visit www.friendsoffreddy.org to find out more information, not only about this year’s convention, but about the history of the series, the newsletters and so much more.

While you may not have heard of Walter R. Brooks or the Freddy series, you have probably heard of a Brooks’ short story “Ed Takes the Pledge.”  No?  Well, that short story was the basis for the 1950’s television series, Mr. Ed and even non-baby boomers know “a horse is a horse, of course, of course…”!

I’ve read four Freddy books so far and each has had its own charm.  Obviously, this entire series—and this particular title—are pure escapism, chock full of cliffhanger chapter endings and simple, yet endearing lessons for living life the way Freddy does—honestly, sometimes perilously, not always happily, but always hopefully.  He is the flip side of the crafty, evil pigs of Animal Farm and for that alone, you just have to love him.

Betrayed

Book # 2 of the House of Night Series

Authors: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Year Published: 2007

Stars: 4/5

Synopsis:

Zoey has been at the House of Night for about one month when this book begins. This the second book in the series, the first book details how she gets to the House of Nights, what it actually is and we are introduced to her friends. In this novel, Zoey, our protagonist, gets betrayed (hence the title) by someone very close to her. But who? Is it one of her four best friends, Shaunee, Erin, Stevie Rae or Damien? Or is it one of the three men who are love interests of Zoey, Heath, Loren or Erik? Someone is killing humans outside of the House of Night and all signs point to a vampyre at the House of Night. It is up to Zoey to figure who is doing this, and she must elicit the help of someone she never thought she would.

Why I liked it:

First and foremost this book is a sequel and in the movie world a sequel always means it is worse than the original (with exceptions to Empire Strikes Back, the second Godfather and maybe Terminator 2). Not the case for this book. Although I have not officially reviewed the first book, I have read it, and I enjoyed this book more. Zoey is a likable heroine, much more likable than Bella from Twilight. Zoey makes mistakes, owns them and moves on. Her sidekicks create a fun environment when the action lags, leaving me entertained and not bored or annoyed that there is a lull in the story. Damien is my favorite of her sidekicks and he reminds me of Piggy in Lord of the Flies…he is the voice of reason. Which makes me like the series even more, because (although it is a fantasy/vampire book) it is more believable.

Second, and spoiler alert, one of main characters dies…at least for now. What drives me crazy about most movies and even books is that the main characters could have 100 bullets shot at them from point-blank-range and they just happen to come out of it unscathed….come on people! When a focal character dies, it may be sad, but it makes the story much more interesting.

Third, both Cast’s are good writers. I am not an expert literary critic, but I love that I can pick up the book and read sentences, paragraphs and chapters that flow nicely. It’s like the opposite of Stephen King. I love Stephen King, but when I read his books I have to be 100% awake. It has to be like 1pm, after 2 cups of coffee and then I can read his novels. They are great literary works, but sometimes it is just hard to follow. Anyway, back to Betrayed. The book is well-written, flows nicely, and is interesting… sounds like a triple threat to me .

What I didn’t like:

There is one thing I do not like about the story, and since it is a semi-big piece of the story, I removed a star. I cannot stand Heath. Heath is Zoey’s human exish-boyfriend and he bugs the shit out of me. I understand it’s just a book but whenever he enters the scene I read faster until I reach the next scene…without him. I also understand that some characters are written to be annoying, but I do not think that was the Cast’s goal with Heath’s character…I just hate him. He is a football jock…strike 1. He acts like a total moron in every scene…strike 2. And he is simply not a vampire…strike 3. Sorry Heath, you’re out!

Little Known Fact:

P.C. Cast, the mother, served in the United States Air Force for a few years and attributes her non-procrastination skills to the Air Force’s instillation of discipline.

Fun Fact:

The House of Night has a movie deal. Not sure how many are on the books, but the first is scheduled to come out in 2011.

Dead Until Dark

Book # 1 of the Southern Vampire Series

Author: Charlaine Harris

Year Published: 2001

Stars: 5/5

Synopsis:

When we enter the novel, vampires are already known to the world. The novel takes place two years after vampires went public in Bon Temps, Louisiana. Sookie Stackhouse, the heroine, is a telepath and works at a bar called Merlotte’s. She meets Bill, a vampire, and finds to her delight that she cannot read his mind. They begin to date off and on. Her boss, Sam, confesses his feelings for her and they date as well. The love story follows along with a series of murders that have been occurring in Bon Temps. With three murders committed, the police grow more suspicious of Jason, Sookie’s brother…and we learn Sookie is the next intended target. We meet Eric, Arlene, Pam, Rene and Hoyt in the first novel as well and these characters provide supporting roles for the main characters. Cliffhanger: Who is the murderer and what will happen in Sookie’s love triangle?????

Why I liked it:

I am a huge fan of character development and you have to love Sookie. While sometimes her actions may seem a little out of the ordinary, we have to remember she is a telepath and not a ‘normal’ person. For example (spoiler alert), when Sookie finds her grandmother dead she has a relatively normal conversation with Bill before calling the police. Not sure that would be my reaction? Bud and Andy, the police detectives, are extremely well-developed and even though they act as antagonists throughout the story, you can’t help but love them. P am and Eric add dry humor to almost every situation which leaves me wanting them in more scenes. Basically, this book is well-written, exciting and has awesome character development.

What I didn’t like:

Not enough of Eric. For anyone who has read more than one Sookie book, you know what I mean .

Little Known Fact:

Charlaine Harris has written three other series featuring  heroines Lily Bard, Aurora Teagarden and Harper Connelly. Are they as good as the Sookie Stackhouse series? I have no idea, but since I love Sookie I’ll give the other girls a shot….after  I finish this series.

Fun Fact:

I read this book on the Outer Banks of North Carolina in October 2009. Listening to the ocean and getting bit my mosquitoes I read a pretty darn good book.