Monday, June 30, 2008

On J. R. R. Tolkien: a biography by Humphrey Carpenter

I absolutely loved this book! For many years I have been an avid fan of all things Lord of the Rings. I have read Lord of the Rings (which is NOT a trilogy :D) many times. I have also read The Silmarillion , The Hobbit and several of the posthumously compiled volumes of the History of Middle Earth.

Carpenter weaves together the different facets of Tolkien's life with the mythology for which Tolkien was most known for and which was so close to Tolkien's heart. The part of the book I enjoyed most was the first part which told about Tolkien's earliest years. This time had the most profound effect on him, or so he says. I tend to agree with him. So many different individual aspects of all of his works can be traced back to Tolkien's childhood and early adolescence.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves Tolkien or learning about influential authors.

Sunday, June 29, 2008

On... The Shakespeare Stealer series by Gary Blackwood

Once again I have discovered another young adult series that I absolutely love and wish had been around when I was that age. Of course, I didn't miss out completely because obviously I got to read the books now. :D

The series is narrated by Widge, who later takes the name of James Pope, an orphan who through a series of events ends up as a player in William Shakespeare's acting company.

Blackwood though writing for a young audience infuses the books with serious issues through written at an appropriate level. I fell in love with the books and the aspect of writing. As a writer I kind of have an affinity for anything that has to do with the process of writing and to go behind the scenes, albeit fictionally, of the writing of some of the greatest and certainly most well known plays of all times absolutely thrilled me!

This series definitely has a place on my want to own list and I strongly recommend it!

On... Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury

I learned something about World War II history that I didn't know before by reading this book. I am ashamed of this part of my history as an American.

This book is narrated by Eddy Okubo who lies about his age to enter the US Army before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After America declares war on Japan Okubo and his fellow Japanese American soldiers encounter various trials including being sent to Cat Island off of the Mississippi coast to serve as the bait in an ill-fated attempt to train dogs to seek out Japanese.

I had no idea that this part of history existed. As a student of history I of course know about the internment camps and various other types of prejudice executed against the Japanese Americans during that time but this felt like an all-time low to me. Just like Eddy and his fellow soldiers I couldn't believe it when their superior officer revealed what their duty was.

Even though the subject could have been extremely tense, sad and tragic Salisbury through Eddy infuses a sense of humor and lightness needed to keep the book from becoming a drudgery.

I absolutely loved this book!

On... The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

I had heard from my Dad that the book is definitely different than the movie. That certainly is true.

I have to say that I was very disappointed in how Leroux portrayed some of my favorite characters from the musical and the movie. Of course, those people changed Leroux's characters to begin with but I like the changes that they made.

Leroux while creating an interesting story wavered back and forth from one story line to another without smooth transitions and many confusing details. I missed several key transitions even reading rather slowly (for me at least) and had to go back to reread and still didn't get a few of those details.

I wouldn't recommend this book unless people want to read classics.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

On ... A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

This book was a great read. All until the end that is. I closed the book and thought "now that's depressing". I won't say what that is because that might spoil the reading.

Hemingway wrote with such crisp style, absent of excess sentimentality. I could do without the few curse words sprinkled in throughout the book but other than that this book is definitely a must read for any connoisseur of the classics.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

On Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I first became acquainted with Marquez in my Spanish Literature class in college. Of course, the piece I read in that class was in Spanish but this book was not. I read the English translation of one of his most famous works. Someday in the future when I bone up on my Spanish I will read the book in the native Spanish.

To be honest, I felt extremely sorry for the main character Florentino Ariza. He waited, although not that patiently, for fifty-one years, nine months and four days for the love of his life Fermina Daza. I never really understood the love story between Florentino and Fermina.

The two, although Florentino much more than Fermina, fell deeply in love when in their late teen years but Fermina rejected Florentino for Dr. Juvenal Urbino, a man with wealth and power... power that he used to to manipulate Fermina. Instead of maintaining his vow of celibacy until he can have Fermina, Florentino satisfies his basest desires for sexual pleasure with many different women who mean nothing to him. At the end when Urbino dies leaving Florentino free to pursue Fermina his current flame, a young school girl, commits suicide. Her family does not know why but Florentino does.

In the end to Florentino and Fermina marry? No. They continue in another reality of sorts, a relationship hidden on a boat coming and going to various locations. They never get off the boat to admit their relationship to the public and to Fermina's children with Urbino.

At the end I did not want Fermina to settle for Florentino. But... she did.

This was a very interesting book. I don't know that I would recommend this book to everyone but it is a thought provoking book and a worthy read of discerning readers.

Friday, June 20, 2008

On Summer Reading Thing 2008

I am a glutton for punishment. I love to read and I don't know what I would do if I didn't have a list of books to check out from the library or add to my own personal library.

Without further ado here is my list for Summer 2008. I'll be starting my practicum in August so I don't know how much time I'll have then but...


Chicken Boy by Frances O'Roark Dowell (06/20/08)
Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen (06/21/08)
Mr. Tucket by Gary Paulsen (06/22/08)
Tucket's Ride by Gary Paulsen (06/22/08)
Call Me Francis Tucket by Gary Paulsen (06/22/08)
Tucket's Gold by Gary Paulsen (06/22/08)
Tucket's Home by Gary Paulsen (06/22/08)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (06/24/08)
A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway (06/26/08)
The Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood (06/26/08)
Shakespeare's Spy by Gary Blackwood (06/27/08)
Shakespeare's Scribe by Gary Blackwood (06/29/08)
The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (06/29/08)
It's My Life by Melody Carlson (06/25/08)
Who I Am by Melody Carlson (07/04/08)
On My Own by Melody Carlson (07/10/08)
I Do by Melody Carlson (07/26/08)
My Name is Chloe by Melody Carlson (07/15/08)
Sold Out by Melody Carlson (07/21/08)
Road Trip by Melody Carlson (07/25/08)
Face the Music by Melody Carlson (07/26/08)
Just Ask by Melody Carlson (07/27/08)
Meant to Be by Melody Carlson (07/28/08)
Falling Up by Melody Carlson (07/28/08)
That was Then... by Melody Carlson (07/29/08)
Middlemarch by George Eliot (08/07/08)
Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury (06/29/08)
What-the-Dickens by Gregory Maguire (07/06/08)
Fair Warning by Hannah Alexander (06/30/08)
Grave Risk by Hannah Alexander (06/30/08)
Note of Peril by Hannah Alexander (07/01/08)
Necessary Measures by Hannah Alexander (07/01/08)
A Boy at War by Harry Mazer (06/29/08)
Walden and Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau (07/06/08)
J. R. R. Tolkien: A Biography by Humphrey Carpenter (06/30/08)
The Smugglers by Iain Lawrence (07/11/08)
Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (07/09/08)
The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce by Ann Rinaldi (07/08/08)
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild (07/19/08)
Idylls of the King by Alfred Tennyson (07/15/08)
Lady of Palenque by Anna Kirwan (07/24/08)
Victoria: May Blossom of Britannia by Anna Kirwan (07/25/08)
A Corner of the Universe by Ann Martin (07/10/08)
Lord Kirkle's Money by Avi (07/15/08)
Mick Harte was here by Barbara Park (07/07/08)
Elisabeth: The Princess Bride by Barry Denenberg (07/12/08)
The Journal of William Thomas Emerson by Barry Denenberg (07/20/08)
So Far from Home by Barry Denenberg (07/16/08)
Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelsen (07/12/08)
A Murder for Her Majesty by Beth Hilgartner (07/20/08)
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (07/20/08)
A Girl from Yamhill by Beverly Cleary (07/21/08)
Voyage of Slaves by Brian Jacques (07/22/08)
Night Hoops by Carl Deuker (07/22/08)
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis (07/06/08)
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke (07/13/08)
The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (07/23/08)


Books Added after the Beginning of the Challenge
The Journal of Wong Ming-Chung by Laurence Yep (07/01/08)
Survival in the Storm by Katelyn Janke (07/05/08)
The Journal of Douglas Allan Deeds by Rodman Philbrick (07/05/08)
Standing in the Light by Mary Pope Osborne (07/05/08)
The Escape From Home by Avi (07/14/08)
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke (07/24/08)
Out of the Silent Planet by C. S. Lewis (07/27/08)
Perelandra by C. S. Lewis (07/29/08)
That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis (07/31/08)
Five Smooth Stones by Kristiana Gregory (07/31/08)
The Journal of Sean Sullivan by William Durbin (08/01/08)
Westward to Home by Patricia Hermes (08/01/08)
A Perfect Place by Patricia Hermes (08/02/08)
Valley of the Moon by Sherry Garland (08/02/08)
The Journal of Otto PeItonen by William Durbin (08/02/08)
The Dark Stairs by Betsy Byars (08/03/08)
Dead Letter by Betsy Byars (08/03/08)
King of Murder by Betsy Byars (08/04/08)
The Black Tower by Betsy Byars (08/04/08)
Skellig by David Almond (08/05/08)
Bound by Donna Jo Napoli (08/05/08)
Kit's Wilderness by David Almond (08/06/08)
The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare (08/06/08)
Silent to the Bone by E. L. Konisburg (08/07/08)
The Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare (08/07/08)
The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio by Lloyd Alexander (08/08/08)
Airman by Eoin Colfer (08/08/08)
The Apprenticeship of Lucas Whitaker by Cynthia DeFelice (08/09/08)
Shen of the Sea by Arther Bowie Chrisman (08/10/08)
Dreamers by Angela Hunt (08/10/08)
Brothers by Angela Hunt (08/11/08)
The Immortal by Angela Hunt (08/11/08)
Roanoke by Angela Hunt (08/12/08)
Jamestown by Angela Hunt (08/12/08)
Hartford by Angela Hunt (08/13/08)
Rehoboth by Angela Hunt (08/14/08)
Punished! by David Lubar (08/15/08)
From Rage to Hope by Crystal Kuykendall (08/15/08)
Freedom Train by Dorothy Sterling (08/16/08)
Fairest by Gail Carson Levine (08/16/08)
The Hollow by Agatha Christie (08/17/08)
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie (08/19/08)
On the Far Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (08/20/08)
Heaven Eyes by David Almond (08/23/08)
Secret Heart by David Almond (08/24/08)
Kaiulani: The People's Princess by Ellen Emerson White (08/24/08)
Meet Me in the Middle by Rick Wormeli (08/24/08)
The Joy of Fearing God by Jerry Bridges (08/24/08)
Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce by John Piper (08/26/08)
In Darkness, Death by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler (08/28/08)
Kaleidoscope Eyes by Karen Ball (08/31/08)
Silent Star by Tracie Peterson (09/06/08)
Beloved Stranger by Judith Pella (09/06/08)
Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper (09/06/08)
When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper (09/10/08)
Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones (09/13/08)
The Innocent Libertine by T. Davis and Isabella Bunn (09/13/08)
The Night Angel by T. Davis and Isabella Bunn (09/18/08)
A Lady of High Regard by Tracie Peterson (09/20/08)

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Spring Reading Thing Wrap Up

Things went so absolutely well this time around! I purposefully underestimated the number of books I wanted to read in this time period so that I wouldn't reach the last couple of weeks and end up trying to cram in the rest of the books on the list.

I also discovered that I had much more time than I thought I would once I started my Masters Program... which I started on June 2. I kept up at the same pace of reading a book or day (granted... they were kids books) or more.

I discovered many new authors which I love and continued in my love of a few. I think the greatest finds for me were in the realm of young adult or children's literature. Since I may end up teaching language arts at the middle school level I decided to add the list of recommended reading (from the school district in the area) so that I would be familiar with the books I will be assigning to my students The two that come to mind right away are Eoin Colfer and the Artemis Fowl series and Emily Rodda with the Rowan of Rin series.

Both of these series are so well written! I absolutely love them!

The challenges have always made me want to read more than I normally would although this reading has become a pretty solid habit for me. :D

I just barely finished all of the books on my list. I put a hold on Becoming Me by Melody Carlson at the library and have been waiting for it for months! I just wish I had realized that a copy was upstairs in my sister's bedroom. :D I'm finishing that in about half an hour.

Here's my completed list.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (03/22/08)
Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident by Eoin Colfer (03/25/08)
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code by Eoin Colfer (03/26/08)
Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer (03/27/08)
Artemis Fowl: THe Opal Deception by Eoin Colfer (03/26/08)
Half Moon Investigations by Eoin Colfer (03/28/08)
The Hitchhikers Guide the the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (03/24/08)
Hideaway by Hannah Alexander (03/29/08)
Safe Haven by Hannah Alexander (03/30/08)
Last Resort by Hannah Alexander (03/30/08)
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (03/24/08)
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine (04/13/08)
By way of the wilderness by Gilbert Morris (04/07/08)
The Jeweled Spur by Gilbert Morris (04/07/08)
The Spider Catcher by Gilbert Morris (04/23/08)
The High Calling by Gilbert Morris (04/07/08)
The Golden Angel by Gilbert Morris (04/07/08)
The Unlikely Allies by Gilbert Morris (04/07/08)
Flyboys: A True Story of Courage by James Bradley (04/21/08)
Confessions of an ugly stepsister by Gregory Maguire (04/01/08)
Incidents in the life of a slave girl by Harriet A. Jacobs (03/31/08)
The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien by J. R. R. Tolkien (04/06/08)
God's gift by Dee Henderson (03/31/08)
The poems of Emily Dickinson edited by R. W. Franklin (04/04/08)
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (04/20/08)
American sphinx by Joseph J. Ellis (04/18/08)
Stoner's Crossing by Judith Pella (04/19/08)
Be My Neat-Heart by Judy Baer (04/14/08)
Halos by Kirsten Heitzmann (04/22/08)
The Breaking Point by Karen Ball (05/29/08)
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (04/28/08)
Bridge to Terebithia by Katherine Paterson (04/24/08)
Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan (04/29/08)
Dreams in the Golden Country by Kathryn Lasky (04/27/08)
Seeds of Hope by Kristiana Gregory (04/25/08)
The Way of Women by Lauraine Snelling (04/30/08)
Kingscote by Linda Chaikin (04/26/08)
Handyman by Linda Nichols (05/04/08)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (04/24/08)
Escape by Lorena McCourtney (05/21/08)
Monday Morning Faith by Lori Copeland (05/02/08)
Holes by Louis Sachar (05/06/08)
Becoming Me by Melody Carlson (06/19/08)
Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgens Clark (05/10/08)
Never Too Late by Michael Phillips (05/01/08)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Alborn (05/08/08)
Mary Poppins in the Park by P. L . Travers (05/07/08)
Look to the Hills by Patricia Mckissack (04/30/08)
Secrets, Lies and Alibies by Patricia Rushford (05/23/08)
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (05/11/08)
Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp by Philip Pullman (05/06/08)
Going Solo by Roald Dahl (05/22/08)
The Solitary Envoy by T. Davis Bunn (05/16/08)

Books added after the beginning of the challenge
A Fire Within by Kathleen Morgan (03/27/08)
Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock (04/02/08)
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols (04/08/08)
The Scribe by Francine Rivers (04/17/08)
Betrayed by Jeanette Windle (04/26/08)
A Proper Pursuit by Lynn Austing (05/01/08)
Kazunomiya: Prisoner of Heaven by Kathryn Lasky (05/12/08)
Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie by Kristiana Gregory (05/12/08)
Lullaby by Jane Orcutt (05/14/08)
All the Tea in China by Jane Orcutt (05/14/08)
The Gawgon and the Boy by Lloyd Alexander (05/17/08)
Gypsy Rizka by Lloyd Alexander (05/18/08)
A Season of Grace by Bette Nordberg (05/19/08)
Second Opinion by Hannah Alexander (05/20/08)
Urgent Care by Hannah Alexander (05/20/08)
A Most Begrudging Bride by Deeanne Gist (05/20/08)
Rekindled by Tamera Alexander (05/24/08)
Love Thy Neighbor by Ann Turner (05/25/08)
The Professor's House by Willa Cather (05/26/08)
The Listener by Terri Blackstock (05/27/08)
One of Ours by Willa Cather (05/27/08)
The Scarecrow and his Servant by Philip Pullman (05/28/08)
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman (05/29/08)
The Braxtons of Miracle Springs by Michael Philips (05/30/08)
Wild Grows the Heather in Devon by Michael Philips (05/31/08)
Wayward Winds by Michael Philips (06/01/08)
The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo (06/01/08)
Kristina: the Girl King by Carolyn Meyer (06/01/08)
Early Sunday Morning by Barry Denenberg (06/01/08)
soul surfer by Bethany Hamilton (06/02/08)
Peril at End House by Agatha Christie (06/03/08)
Hidden Talents by David Lubar (06/04/08)
What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson (06/06/08)
The Noble Fugitive by T Davis Bunn and Isabella Bunn (06/07/08)
Forgiven by Karen Kingsbury (06/08/08)
Fifth Seal by Bodie and Brock Thoene (06/08/08)
When Will This Cruel War Be Over by Barry Denenberg (06/09/08)
The Journal of Ben Unchida by Barry Denenberg (06/10/08)
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway (06/13/08)
Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda (06/13/08)
Rowan and the Travelers by Emily Rodda (06/14/08)
Rowan and the Keeper of the Crystal by Emily Rodda (06/14/08)
Rowan and the Zeback by Emily Rodda(06/14/08)
Rowan and the Ice Creepers by Emily Rodda (06/15/08)
Talking with God by Fenelon (06/16/08)
Three Plays by Euripides (06/17/08)
The Supernaturalists by Eoin Colfer (06/18/08)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

On... The Supernaturalists by Eoin Colfer

I absolutely loved this book! I fell in love with Colfer's writing while I read the Artemis Fowl series. He created a character and world so utterly unique, like nothing I had ever seen before.

Also on my list by Eoin Colfer was Half-Moon Investigations. While Colfer's writing style enlivened the book and made it somewhat worth my while I did not enjoy it as much.

I did not know what to expect when I picked up The Supernaturalists. I think I figured out why I loved the Artemis Fowl books but not Half-Moon Investigations. In Artemis Fowl and with The Supernaturalists Colfer creates a completely new world. Half-Moon Investigations stuck to reality just a little too much.

I absolutely love how Colfer weaves in so many twists and turns, betrayals and acts of loyalty into the plot line. None of these unexpected happenings come close to reading like deus ex machina... something completely unbelievable... which makes it so enjoyable. I should have seem a couple of them coming, being familiar with Colfer's style, but I haven't read any of Colfer's books for a few months so I forgot about them until afterwards.

Definitely a great book! I highly recommend it.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

On... Three Plays by Euripides

This is my first time reading any of the classic Greek plays. I have to say that I was not disappointed. I have read the Iliad and the Odyssey before and appreciated the great writing evident within but the gore really turned me off.

The plays by Euripides are free from gore but not from classical mythology and the great writing. The pathos of the husband in the first play (I forget the names) losing his wife yet still remembering to show hospitality is such a great story. Then in the end when his act of hospitality which everyone else looks down upon turns out to be the thing that brings his wife back to him from the dead I absolutely fell in love with the play. Such good writing!

I recommend these plays to anyone interested in the classics.

Friday, June 13, 2008

On... Rowan of Rin by Emily Rodda

Rowan of Rin is the first book in a series on the assigned middle school reading list for the district where I live. Before I looked up the list to add to my grand to be read list I had never heard of the book.

I wish some of these books had been written when I was in middle school. I would have grabbed them off the shelf as fast as I could. When I was that age I absolutely loved fantasy and would have incorporated all kinds of aspects into my own writings.

This book deals with very basic issues in a very simple yet profound issues. While I as an adult could see the lessons written into the book by Rodda, Rodda weaved together very simple yet necessary lessons at a writing level perfect for many middle school students.

I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. I love stumbling across a series after the series has been completed. I don't have to wait for the books to come out.

On... For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

I approached this book with my memories of John Steinbeck in my mind. I just realized that as I started to write this entry. I have found that while Steinbeck's writing can be impressive he often overloads his text with things gratuitous in nature. Hemingway is not like that.

I found myself strangely fascinated by this book. While I also found myself a little confused as to where the book was placed and how much time passed I can put that all aside because of my awe of Hemingway's writing style. The book is placed in Spain. the time period, though I should know this, escapes me at the moment. Hemingway infuses the text with stylistic turnings typical of imperfect translations of Spanish to English. A large majority of the characters are native Spaniards.

I could look at an awkward phrasing and realize exactly how that would have been stated in Spanish and why the translation felt so awkward. In addition, Hemingway peppered hundreds of Spanish words and phrases throughout the book, many of which stood untranslated.

I suppose that Hemingway's writing style alone redeems the book in my mind. If it had not been for the careful crafting of the language I probably would have put the book down before I got halfway through because I wouldn't have been able to find one end of the book from another.

I still don't understand the ending.

Sunday, June 08, 2008

On... The Noble Fugitive by T. Davis Bunn and Isabella Bunn

I found myself positively surprised by this book. I didn't like the first book in the series and compared it unfortunately to some of Gilbert Morris' better works. (Better but still not so great)

Although the Bunns confused me a little by deviating with multiple story lines they did condense the story into a time frame of a little less than a year. The first book spanned several years and didn't seem to have a coherent story line.

The only problem I had was a bit of confusion with the prologue and arranging the time line at the beginning of the book.

Overall the book was not bad but not something that I'll add to my personal library.

Saturday, June 07, 2008

On... What She Left for Me by Tracie Peterson

I found myself pleasantly surprised by this book. I used to absolutely love all of Peterson's book but after taking a long break from reading her books I picked up one a few months ago and found the entire book entirely distasteful.

Judging from that experience I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. I enjoyed the book. I found it on one of the shelves at my grandmother's house and she gave it to me. Originally I had decided to sell it as soon as I read it but I'm actually considering keeping it.

Although Peterson utilized a couple of techniques that separated me from the story momentarily she told a story that spanned three generations and thirty years in a way that made me come to love the characters.

I recommend this book.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

On... Road Trips!

Finally, a post that is not a book review!
After I graduate from the Masters Program next spring my dad and I are going to take a cross country road trip. Although we have had to scale down our original goal of reaching nearly every state west of Indiana I will be able to add 17 states to my have been in list.

A few days ago my father mentioned to me that we should start looking for sponsors for our trip... to make it more affordable of course. :D I didn't know quite what to think of the idea because of course, he and I aren't famous at all. Hardly anyone even reads this blog besides my father. :D

Then I dropped by one of the blogs I frequently visit and noticed that Karlene at inksplasher.blogspot.com is going on a road trip with her daughter and has gotten sponsors! Of course... not big huge corporations but donations of all sorts and other such thing. I couldn't believe that I discovered this a day after my father brought the idea to me. Now I know that he isn't completely insane. :D

Thanks Karlene so much for planning this road trip and being so organized in offering all of these challenges!

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

On... Hidden Talents by David Lubar

I found myself very disappointed with this book. The first thing that jumped into my mind when I started reading the book was how much this seemed like Holes. The details are different but the concept is roughly the same.

Another detractor was Lubar's use of a curse word a couple of times when I found its usage rather gratuitous. The writing style is interesting but I don't like the ultimate message that the book communicates. I would not use this book in my curriculum as a future middle school language arts teacher.

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

On... Peril at End House by Agatha Christie

While most of Agatha Christie's books are intriguing on their own once many of the books are read a pattern is easily detectable. In fact, most of the Hercule Poirot books have a Sherlock Holmes set up to them. This story was told from the perspective of Captain Hastings, the man to which Poirot confides and uses as a board to bounce his ideas off.

Another thing that I don't like about Christie's books is the fact that the ending is usually something that cannot be detected by even the most casual observation. I have to rephrase that. I caught maybe one or two hints about the ending and the ultimate culprit but too often Christie keeps the reader completely in the dark.

I appreciate Christie's style. She weaves a captivating mystery... albeit unsolvable... without any of the extraneous or I should say gratuitous information that many other authors feel like they have to in order to get people to continue reading their books.

Although I did say a few negative things about the book I do give this book a positive recommendation. it's a good read with only a few points that I simply don't like.

Monday, June 02, 2008

On... soul surfer by Bethany Hamilton

Since I first heard about the tragic shark attack that took Bethany's arm I have wanted to know more about her story. Now, months... probably years later... I finally read her account of the incident.

What an amazing testimony she has! She speaks candidly about her life and while the issues she touches on aren't enormously deep and complex issues, the issues are very important for a fourteen year old girl in her situation. The fact that I am in training to earn an MAT in teaching Middle Grades I find this book very revealing. Of course her story and experiences are not the same as all in her age group but it is an insight into at least one.

Great book. I definitely recommend it.

Sunday, June 01, 2008

On... The Other Side of Truth by Beverley Naidoo

A couple months back I looked up the summer reading list for the middle schools in my local school district and added every book on that list to my want to read list. I figured that if I in a year or so may be teaching Language Arts to middle schoolers that I should have read what they are assigned to read.

The Dear America series is on that list (I also finished two books in that series but am not going to review them. I wouldn't have much besides the same praise I have already given. :D) but I would read those books even if they weren't on the list. The Other Side of Truth is the first book besides the Dear America series that I have read from that list.

Wow. What a very well written book. This book tells the story of two children, Sade and Femi who flee their native Nigeria immediately after the murder of their mother and find themselves lost and without family in London. Naidoo tells the story from an omniscient third person narrator but places much emphasis on the events that occur to Sade specifically.

I absolutely loved this book because of the fantastic storytelling and felt so sorry for Sade and Femi because of the terrible circumstances that surrounded them. I knew that of course these characters were fictional but unfortunately the situation the fled from is very real.

I definitely recommend this book.