A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories About Love [Library Binding]

Cynthia Rylant (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1990

A collection of eight tales of the power of love feature stories about the past, about first-time love, and more. By the author of Fine White Dust. Reprint. AB. VY. SLJ. H. PW.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Newbery Honor author demonstrates in these eight evocative tales that love is indeed where--and when--you find it. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Eight finely crafted stories explore various aspects of love from a variety of perspectives. From the two 16-year-olds, wise beyond their years, who are preparing for separation from their as yet unborn child in the title story, to the optimistic musings of an old man at his grandaughter's wedding, readers are treated to unique yet universal observations of people in love. The stories are filled with both humor and heartbreak, but the sensibility of Rylant's voice and her distinctly drawn characters evoke genuine sentiment while avoiding sentimentality. Original in plot and rich in imagery, the stories read smoothly, offering a broad range of experience and viewpoint. Although half of the stories feature adolescent characters, the themes may be of more interest to adults than to young readers. However, those who delve into the book will be well rewarded. --Starr LaTronica, North Berkeley Library, CA
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 104 pages
• Publisher: Orchard Books (September 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0531085007
• ISBN-13: 978-0531085004
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,401,607 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Cynthia Rylant is the author of numerous distinguished novels and picture books for young readers. In addition to her beginning-reader series: Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, and Mr. Putter and Tabby, as well as her Cobble Street Cousins early-chapter series, she is also the author of the Newbery Medal-winning Missing May, the Newbery Honor Book A Fine White Dust, and two Caldecott Honor-winning picture books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars love didn't mean as much to me before I read this book., June 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories About Love (Library Binding)

Love didn't mean as much before I read this book A COUPLE OF KOOKS AND OTHER STORIES ABOUT LOVe by Cynthia Rylant. My favorite short story was about a grandfather who was excited about his grandaughter getting married. He talked about how he had made promises to his ex wife, when they were going to get married. He's telling all his experiences to his grandaughter, so that she doesn't commit those mistakes.(His marriage didn't work out).This man loved life. After his marriage failed, someone whispered in his ear, " I love you." He thanked God : "All the while how long, long, long life can go on."That changed his life point of view.The story I liked the least was called ON THE BRINK, it was about a boy whowas in love with two girls at the same time. He was in love with a woman older than him, and a girl younger than him. most important of all, he knows Mary Anne ( the youing one) more than he knows himself. He struggles to find the perfect girl for him. I said this was the worst story, that doesn't mean I didn't like it , but there were better ones. love as you can see, is everywhere. Everything is related with love, friendship, marriage, problems, solutions, everything!!! I really loved this book this is because I love romance, and most important, because I love, Love. Love for me is everything. A world without love isn't one .Love is what life is meant for.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Kook of all, August 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love (Mass Market Paperback)

Dymirah Gurley

Book Review of

A Couple of Kooks and Other Love Stories

&

The Eagle

The Book A Couple of Kooks and Other Love Stories is by Cynthia Rylant.

This book is about different people who all fell in love in the strangest ways. The first story was about a boy who was mentally challenged and he fell in love with a store clerk, who worked in a store across the street from where he ate. He never saw the lady before only her long dark hair. The boy always had a thing for flowers since his mother had died. So he planted the flower seeds that were in a box his mother had left and began to send flowers to the store clerk across the street. She didn¡¦t know who sent her the flowers or anything. People who saw the flowers in the window thought somebody had died since the flowers kept coming in, and piling into the window. Nobody thought that the store clerk would ever get a secret admirer because of her tom boyish ways.

What made me want to read this book were the illustrations on the cover it seemed like a fairy tallish sort of book. The title seemed to be comical since it had the word Kooks in it. I wanted to read this book because my teacher requested it for me and I had a book review to do.

I think this book would be great for awkward lovers and people who like to read love stories. It would probably be great for young adult, more say girls.

I think the very first story is the best part of the book which is the one I described above which is entitled ± Crush. The way the unfamiliar characters came familiar with each other through odd behaviors.

The events that made up the story were how the boy was very special. He wasn¡¦t even able to communicate with people until he was 12 years old, and the lady that worked at the hardware store across the street wasn¡¦t at all lady like. It didn¡¦t add u together but it worked out in the end.

The boy in the story was described very thoroughly. The author told his life so precise that you were able to suspect that something was wrong with him. I like the way the author describes the store clerk as well because you would never have guessed that someone would have a crush on her.

The settings in the story painted a picture in your mind because of how well they were described. The way the author described the setting of the day it made me feel as if I was there.

The theme was sarcastic and hearty warming at the same time. You can identify how the person felt because of the way Cynthia Rylant described the characters voice volumes and the way they said their phrases.

The story was told by a narrator. The style was romance and humorous. It was fantasy. The author¡¦s message was probably, you can find love in the most unusual places.

There really wasn¡¦t any weakness to Ms. Cynthia Rylant¡¦s story. I liked the book very much, because of its style and level of understanding the way things were being told. I would really recommend this book to young adults and teens.

4.0 out of 5 stars The Greatest Kook of all, August 1, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: A Couple of Kooks and Other Stories about Love (Mass Market Paperback)

[...]

This book is about different people who all fell in love in the strangest ways. The first story was about a boy who was mentally challenged and he fell in love with a store clerk, who worked in a store across the street from where he ate. He never saw the lady before only her long dark hair. The boy always had a thing for flowers since his mother had died. So he planted the flower seeds that were in a box his mother had left and began to send flowers to the store clerk across the street. She didn¡¦t know who sent her the flowers or anything. People who saw the flowers in the window thought somebody had died since the flowers kept coming in, and piling into the window. Nobody thought that the store clerk would ever get a secret admirer because of her tom boyish ways.

What made me want to read this book were the illustrations on the cover it seemed like a fairy tallish sort of book. The title seemed to be comical since it had the word Kooks in it. I wanted to read this book because my teacher requested it for me and I had a book review to do.

I think this book would be great for awkward lovers and people who like to read love stories. It would probably be great for young adult, more say girls.

I think the very first story is the best part of the book which is the one I described above which is entitled ± Crush. The way the unfamiliar characters came familiar with each other through odd behaviors.

The events that made up the story were how the boy was very special. He wasn¡¦t even able to communicate with people until he was 12 years old, and the lady that worked at the hardware store across the street wasn¡¦t at all lady like. It didn¡¦t add u together but it worked out in the end.

The boy in the story was described very thoroughly. The author told his life so precise that you were able to suspect that something was wrong with him. I like the way the author describes the store clerk as well because you would never have guessed that someone would have a crush on her.

The settings in the story painted a picture in your mind because of how well they were described. The way the author described the setting of the day it made me feel as if I was there.

The theme was sarcastic and hearty warming at the same time. You can identify how the person felt because of the way Cynthia Rylant described the characters voice volumes and the way they said their phrases.

The story was told by a narrator. The style was romance and humorous. It was fantasy. The author¡¦s message was probably, you can find love in the most unusual places.

There really wasn¡¦t any weakness to Ms. Cynthia Rylant¡¦s story. I liked the book very much, because of its style and level of understanding the way things were being told. I would really recommend this book to young adults and teens.