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Title: Catherine, Called Birdy by Karen Cushman ISBN: 0-06-440584-2 Publisher: HarperTrophy Pub. Date: 01 May, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.07 (193 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: So-So
Comment: ''Catherine, Called Birdy'' was a book I was assigned to read for school. I did not really enjoy it very much, but it did have some good parts in it. Really the only reason i enjoyed ''Catherine'' was that I like history. The time in the book is 1290, so it really gives you lots of information on the Medieval time period. Catherine is the daughter of Lord Rollo, an ex- knight who owns quite a bit of land, therefore making him fairly wealthy. Normally, when girls turn fourteen like Catherine, they are to be married. Catherine does not want to be married at all, especially since she does not get to choose her husband. Her ''toad of a father'' is willing to send her away with any rich man- no matter how unbearable or rude he might be. Using her sharp wits and creative mind Catherine manages to send at least four suitors back to their own manors. However, during Catherine's father's Christmas party, a man she dubbs ''Shaggy Beard'' shows up. He is greedy, dirty, stupid, and disrespectful. Catherine believes that her father and Shaggy Beard are brewing up a match between herself and Shaggy Beard's son Stephen. Catherine can not imagine having to live anywhere near Shaggy Beard, and is totally revolted with the idea. She later finds out that Shaggy Beard does not wish for her to marry Stephen, but for Catherine to marry Shaggy Beard himself! The rest of the book is all about Catherine chasing Shaggy Beard away and trying to deal with her life.
I would not recomend this book to anyone below the age of eleven or so. Catherine curses an awful lot in the book. She uses old curses, such as ''Corpus Bones'' and ''Dues'' but by the first couple pages, it is pretty obvious that they are cuss words. I don't think younger childrens' parents would like their child reading a book where the main charecter curses alot and talks all the time about how she hates her life. That is actually part of the reason that the book turned me off.
By the end of the book, I was so bored out of my mind that I could not take it anymore. Catherine is very self centered and complains like there is no tomorrow. I definatly do not recomend ''Catherine, Called Birdy'' to anyone unless they really like the Middle Ages. Otherwise, the book really will not intrest you.
Rating: 5
Summary: this was my 6th grade book report and i got a A+ !
Comment: Catherine Called Birdy
Catherine Called Birdy is not about your average damsel in distress and is willing to do anything so that she does not have to marry against her will. Catherine¡¯s father is a greedy toad that is willing to sacrifice anything, even his daughters happiness to have a rich man married into his family, but not if Catherine has anything to do with it. Now Catherine was not like most young ladies in the Middle Ages but was a clever, mischievous tomboy. What she thinks made a fine young lady was someone dumb, docile and accomplished. So far this cunning girl managed to rid her self of many suitors, but when the ugliest, most revolting man comes, he just happens to be the richest. This determined girl¡¯s tricks did not work on this man and her father made sure that Catherine didn¡¯t do anything to hurt her chances. Was Catherine going to have to marry this man or was she going to able to pull herself out of this marriage?
Recommendation
I would recommend everybody reading this because it takes place in Medieval England and shows the point of view from a lady in these times. Women probably all felt at one point or another like Catherine and that would be feeling trapped. Even if this book does not inform you much about the Middle Ages it is very interesting and funny. This book comes in diary form and is very informative that way.
Rating: 4
Summary: Catherine, Called Birdy
Comment: This book was an interesting and informative read. It features a 15-year-old girl, Catherine, in the year 1290, who is writing a diary at the request of her brother. Her father is determined to marry her off to the richest suitor possible. But Catherine won't give up that easily, and she gets rid of several suitors in highly original ways. Finally she finds herself engaged to Lord Shaggy Beard, the richest of them all- unfortunately also the most revolting. Corpus Bones!
Many people disliked this book because of what they called "vulgarity" or "crudity" as well as the "negative tone" of the story. While it is true that many of the terms Catherine uses in her diary are considered vulgar today, at that time they were in common usage. And Catherine should hardly be expected to censor her diary for the comfort of the readers. And many diaries- mine for instance- are negative in tone, because people tend to write more when they are angry or frustrated. Try putting yourself in her place and see how positive you can be! You will enjoy the story more if you can see past the language. Others are disturbed by the fact that Catherine openly hates her father- but that is hardly uncommon in teenagers, especially when said father is trying to sell you off to a "pig".
Now that I've got that over with...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from the beginning, to almost the end. There are not many children's books about this time period that are as readable as this. The main character is witty and feisty, a good combination for a narrator.I gave it four stars because of the abrupt ending- Catherine has a 360-degree turnaround in attitude, finds her sense of self, and returns home to the welcome news that her fiance is dead. Also, because all the characters are described from Catherine's point of view, they are less developed than she and not as realistic. And since all the arguments and disagreements are likewise from Catherine's point of view, we only get one side of the story. Other than that, this book is a wonderful read. I especially liked the references to the "Book of Saints" throughout the book. Fans of Karen Cushman will love it.
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Title: The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman, Bryan Leister ISBN: 006440630X Publisher: HarperTrophy Pub. Date: 30 September, 1996 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: A Guide for Using Catherine, Called Birdy in the Classroom by Lynda Wilson ISBN: 1576901394 Publisher: Teacher Created Materials Pub. Date: 01 April, 1998 List Price(USD): $7.95 |
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Title: Matilda Bone by Karen Cushman ISBN: 0440418224 Publisher: Yearling Books Pub. Date: 12 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $5.50 |
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Title: The Giver by Lois Lowry ISBN: 0440237688 Publisher: Laure Leaf Pub. Date: 10 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis ISBN: 0440414121 Publisher: Bantam Books Pub. Date: 08 September, 1997 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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