How is it 2018?
I read a lot in January--here we go:
1. The Shell Game (Janet Evanovich)-I needed something fluffy and Evanovich never fails. I saw some reviews that compared this series to the Stephanie Plum series but with a different character--yep, that describes it pretty well.
2. Bad Kitty: Camp Daze (Nick Bruel)--Hey, its a chapter book, it counts. Cute, funny...
3. Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Caroline Fraser)--The author spent a lot of the book telling about Laura's issues with her daughter. It was interesting, nothing shocking, but nothing exciting.
4. Origin (Dan Brown)--Surprisingly good--not as good as Digital Fortress, but a decent Dan Brown book.
5. For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and All the Rest of Y'All, Too. (Christopher Endin)--not as good as I hoped. A few interesting points, but mostly a former teacher telling "us" that we don't know how to teach.
6. Christina's Secret (Ray Golden)--Mr. IM and the kids bought it for me at the Al-Mart. It was entertaining and set in Colorado.
7. Good Me, Bad Me (Ali Land)--Very entertaining and suspenseful! A good mystery.
8. Hunting Prince Dracula (Kerri Maniscalco)--A young adult mystery about a girl training to be a doctor in the 1880's. Ok, maybe not realistic, but another good mystery.
9. A Tangled Mercy (Joy Jordan Lane)-I think this was an Amazon book pick. It was good--a bit of a historical mystery and a present-day mystery connected.
10 and 11. Missing Person 0 and 1 (James Hunt)--I really wanted to like this book, but it is broken down into 50-page sections that Amazon gave away the first two sections and wants $2.99 for each of the next..
12. Silent Child (Sarah A Denzil) About a boy who disappears when he is six and reappears when he is sixteen. Lots of twists and turns, might make the top ten!
13. Laura Ingalls is Ruining My Life (Shelley Tongas)--cute young adult book about a family that moves to Walnut Gove Minnesota.
14. Disrupting Poverty (Kathleen M. Budge)--Great book for teachers--nothing super exciting or new, but a good read and good reminder of why I teach. Worth the read if you work with people.
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Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Friday, February 2, 2018
Wednesday, January 3, 2018
Best books of 2017
I almost wonder if I should make this a top 20, since I'm starting with 18 on this list....
Let's see if I can prioritize though:
Top 9 (in no particular order, series included as singles...yep, that's probably cheating...):
1. Lilac Girls (Martha Hall Kelly)--January
2. Three Allen Eskens books: (last one was best): The Life We Bury (Allen Eskens), The Guise of Another, the Heavens May Fall--February
3. Robert Dugani's books--My Sister's Grave and Her Final Breath (Robert Dugoni)--July, In the Clearing --August, The Trapped Girl--September, Close to Home--October
4. The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)--October
5. Dark Places (Gillian Flynn)--July
6. Henry's Sisters (Cathy Lamb)--July
7. Back Over There (Richard Rubin)--June
8. The Chemist (Stephanie Meyer)--October
9. Woman of God (James Patterson)--December
Honorable Mention
1. Four Mike Mullin books (first one was best)-February
2. Long Way Gone (Charles Martin)--August
3. Barbara Nickless--Dead Stop--October
4. Hardcore Twenty-Four (Janet Evanovich)--December
5. The Sleepwalker (Chris Bojalian)--March
6. The Painted Queen (Elizabeth Peters)--August
Links to this year's book blogs:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Let's see if I can prioritize though:
Top 9 (in no particular order, series included as singles...yep, that's probably cheating...):
1. Lilac Girls (Martha Hall Kelly)--January
2. Three Allen Eskens books: (last one was best): The Life We Bury (Allen Eskens), The Guise of Another, the Heavens May Fall--February
3. Robert Dugani's books--My Sister's Grave and Her Final Breath (Robert Dugoni)--July, In the Clearing --August, The Trapped Girl--September, Close to Home--October
4. The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)--October
5. Dark Places (Gillian Flynn)--July
6. Henry's Sisters (Cathy Lamb)--July
7. Back Over There (Richard Rubin)--June
8. The Chemist (Stephanie Meyer)--October
9. Woman of God (James Patterson)--December
Honorable Mention
1. Four Mike Mullin books (first one was best)-February
2. Long Way Gone (Charles Martin)--August
3. Barbara Nickless--Dead Stop--October
4. Hardcore Twenty-Four (Janet Evanovich)--December
5. The Sleepwalker (Chris Bojalian)--March
6. The Painted Queen (Elizabeth Peters)--August
Links to this year's book blogs:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Saturday, December 9, 2017
November 2017...What did I read?
November was a slower reading month--partially because I didn't listen to anything in the car--Mr. IM's car had a long vacation at the auto shop, so we all car-pooled, meaning I don't get to listen to books (which is fine...but means I read fewer books!)
1. The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer--an interesting premise. Part mystery, part James Bond...a great story, might be top ten.
2. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan--Set in Italy during WWII. This book is based on true stories. It kind of started slow but came to me highly recommended, so I powered through until I started getting into it. Very interesting perspective on the war.
3. Breaking Wild by Diane Les Bequests-Story starts with a woman lost in the Colorado Wilderness and focuses on her and the Forest Servicewoman who tries to find her. It was interesting, but there was a lot of "extra" stuff to the story that distracted...just being lost in the woods and/or trying to find her is a big enough story, we don't necessarily need extra detailed backstory on both people's childhood.
4. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty--very good--Someone recommended it to me a couple years ago and I didn't read it, finally got around to it and wasn't disappointed. The main character is a 39-year-old woman who loses all memory of the past ten years. Some mystery as she struggles to figure out her current life, interesting characters, and storyline.
5. I am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll. A mystery set in England centers on a woman who sees what she thinks is the prelude to a crime. Some interesting ideas about what we think should be reported and what we ignore. Good story.
6. Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden. Didn't live up to the hype. I thought it was a book about Joe Biden's relationship with his son Beau and how he and the family traveled through Beau's illness and death. That part of the story was there, but it really was buried under Joe's stories about all the things he was doing as Vice President while Beau was ill. It was interesting, but not great.
1. The Chemist by Stephanie Meyer--an interesting premise. Part mystery, part James Bond...a great story, might be top ten.
2. Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan--Set in Italy during WWII. This book is based on true stories. It kind of started slow but came to me highly recommended, so I powered through until I started getting into it. Very interesting perspective on the war.
3. Breaking Wild by Diane Les Bequests-Story starts with a woman lost in the Colorado Wilderness and focuses on her and the Forest Servicewoman who tries to find her. It was interesting, but there was a lot of "extra" stuff to the story that distracted...just being lost in the woods and/or trying to find her is a big enough story, we don't necessarily need extra detailed backstory on both people's childhood.
4. What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty--very good--Someone recommended it to me a couple years ago and I didn't read it, finally got around to it and wasn't disappointed. The main character is a 39-year-old woman who loses all memory of the past ten years. Some mystery as she struggles to figure out her current life, interesting characters, and storyline.
5. I am Watching You by Teresa Driscoll. A mystery set in England centers on a woman who sees what she thinks is the prelude to a crime. Some interesting ideas about what we think should be reported and what we ignore. Good story.
6. Promise Me, Dad by Joe Biden. Didn't live up to the hype. I thought it was a book about Joe Biden's relationship with his son Beau and how he and the family traveled through Beau's illness and death. That part of the story was there, but it really was buried under Joe's stories about all the things he was doing as Vice President while Beau was ill. It was interesting, but not great.
Saturday, November 4, 2017
What I read in October 2017
I'm writing this on October 30--it seems unlikely that I'll finish the 528 page book on the top of the pile by tomorrow night since I'm only on about page 50....
Here we go:
1. Audio CD in Car--Laughter of Dead Kings (Elizabeth Peters). Still love it, still good, read the rest of the series first if you haven't or you'll be lost.
2. Close to Home (Robert Dugoni)--I do like this series, it hasn't failed me yet. Mystery/suspense set in the Pacific Northwest. Female lead character.
3. The Proving (Beverly Lewis)--probably never a top ten, but Amish romantic fiction is always entertaining. In this installment, a girl comes home from the English world to run her family's bed and breakfast.
4. The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)--bounces between World War I and just after WWII. Two female lead characters, lots of twists. Good book and seems to be historically accurate for a fiction book.
5. The Deep Dark Descending (Allen Eskins)--I was impatient to read this and was a little disappointed--it is a slightly different book than his earlier ones in the series. I still liked it, but not as much as the others. This one focuses on a police officer investigating his wife's death.
6. Dead Stop (Barbar Nickless)--Set in Denver, a female railroad police officer and Iraq War Vet solves mysteries with her service dog. This one was very good--the first was free on Amazon, I think this is the 3rd.
7. When I'm Gone (Emily Bleeker)- Saw it recommended somewhere (the newspaper?) and thought it looked good. Follows a man whose wife has just died of cancer and who is trying to solve a family mystery. Pretty good story, a couple plot surprises, a few predictable. Probably will look for other things by her.
8. Haunted Hikes (Maren Horjus)--Recommended by Backpacker Magazine when I read a preview there. Has the actual hikes (a few for each region of the US) and legends to go with each. Hikes vary from "easy walk" to "expert only". A fun, quick, read. Might pick it up used in a few months (when it isn't as new) to have for hike reference.
9. Haunted Colorado (Charles Stanfield, Jr.)--I feel like I've probably read it before. It was a quick read, not very exciting or spooky. Arranged by regions, but appeared to be organized by someone who hadn't spent much time here. Stories were mostly typical urban legends, very few facts.
Happy Reading!
Here we go:
1. Audio CD in Car--Laughter of Dead Kings (Elizabeth Peters). Still love it, still good, read the rest of the series first if you haven't or you'll be lost.
2. Close to Home (Robert Dugoni)--I do like this series, it hasn't failed me yet. Mystery/suspense set in the Pacific Northwest. Female lead character.
3. The Proving (Beverly Lewis)--probably never a top ten, but Amish romantic fiction is always entertaining. In this installment, a girl comes home from the English world to run her family's bed and breakfast.
4. The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)--bounces between World War I and just after WWII. Two female lead characters, lots of twists. Good book and seems to be historically accurate for a fiction book.
5. The Deep Dark Descending (Allen Eskins)--I was impatient to read this and was a little disappointed--it is a slightly different book than his earlier ones in the series. I still liked it, but not as much as the others. This one focuses on a police officer investigating his wife's death.
6. Dead Stop (Barbar Nickless)--Set in Denver, a female railroad police officer and Iraq War Vet solves mysteries with her service dog. This one was very good--the first was free on Amazon, I think this is the 3rd.
7. When I'm Gone (Emily Bleeker)- Saw it recommended somewhere (the newspaper?) and thought it looked good. Follows a man whose wife has just died of cancer and who is trying to solve a family mystery. Pretty good story, a couple plot surprises, a few predictable. Probably will look for other things by her.
8. Haunted Hikes (Maren Horjus)--Recommended by Backpacker Magazine when I read a preview there. Has the actual hikes (a few for each region of the US) and legends to go with each. Hikes vary from "easy walk" to "expert only". A fun, quick, read. Might pick it up used in a few months (when it isn't as new) to have for hike reference.
9. Haunted Colorado (Charles Stanfield, Jr.)--I feel like I've probably read it before. It was a quick read, not very exciting or spooky. Arranged by regions, but appeared to be organized by someone who hadn't spent much time here. Stories were mostly typical urban legends, very few facts.
Happy Reading!
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
What I read....September 2017
September is always a weird month. I feel like I should read more, because the fall is coming and it is cooler, and...well, no...
I did read an Amazon pick--(#1) and a few others...read the commentary for thoughts, I guess...
1. All the Little Children (Jo Furniss)--An Amazon monthly pick a while back. If she hadn't announced that she has no plans to write a sequel, this would have made my top ten. It is a nontraditional dystopian novel...instead of being about teenagers, its about two moms and their assorted children. I wasn't disappointed because everything wasn't tied up in a bow, I'm disappointed because there were so many unexplained story lines that were just kind of left wide open or were ended in a way that wasn't consistent with the story. The last chapter, the characters don't really act consistently with themselves either. You'd have to read it I suppose to understand. The premise of the story was really interesting though...perhaps she will write a sequel or someone else will take her idea and run with it.
2. The Trapped Girl (Robert Dugoni)--Eventually he's going to stop writing sequels....right now I'm (impatiently) waiting for the one published a couple weeks ago...This one didn't disappoint, again, not top ten, but entertaining and work reading.
3. Nevertheless (Alec Baldwin)--Parts of this autobiography were really fascinating and parts were not...I like biographies and autobiographies, so it was interesting.
4. Don't You Cry (Mary Kubica)--I think I've read other things by this author. She was entertaining. A couple twists. Good mystery. No urgency to ready anything else by her right now.
5. The Last of the Doughboys (Richard Rubin)--Great book, maybe not top 10, but I do recommend it. It just took me a loooonng time to finish it. (It is a loooonng book). I learned a lot about World War I. It made me sad that I didn't meet more WWI vets and talk to them before they were all gone.
6. Night Train to Memphis (Elizabeth Peters)--A classic, especially when read by Barbara Rosenblat.
What's up next?
Well, at the moment, I have these checked out of the library:
When I'm Gone (Emily Bleeker)
The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)
Close to Home (Robert Dugoni)
California (Edan Lepuki)
Commonwealth (Ann Patchett
For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood...and the Rest of Y'all Too (Christopher Emdin)
The Proving (Beverly Lewis)
I've also committed to a semi-informal book study at school, we're reading Teaching Adolescents with Autism (Walter G. Kaweski) and to reading another Amazon pick from a few months ago, Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Mark Sullivan) because one of my other co-workers read it and wants to talk to someone about it....so I'd say I have enough to keep me busy for the month.
Happy reading!
I did read an Amazon pick--(#1) and a few others...read the commentary for thoughts, I guess...
1. All the Little Children (Jo Furniss)--An Amazon monthly pick a while back. If she hadn't announced that she has no plans to write a sequel, this would have made my top ten. It is a nontraditional dystopian novel...instead of being about teenagers, its about two moms and their assorted children. I wasn't disappointed because everything wasn't tied up in a bow, I'm disappointed because there were so many unexplained story lines that were just kind of left wide open or were ended in a way that wasn't consistent with the story. The last chapter, the characters don't really act consistently with themselves either. You'd have to read it I suppose to understand. The premise of the story was really interesting though...perhaps she will write a sequel or someone else will take her idea and run with it.
2. The Trapped Girl (Robert Dugoni)--Eventually he's going to stop writing sequels....right now I'm (impatiently) waiting for the one published a couple weeks ago...This one didn't disappoint, again, not top ten, but entertaining and work reading.
3. Nevertheless (Alec Baldwin)--Parts of this autobiography were really fascinating and parts were not...I like biographies and autobiographies, so it was interesting.
4. Don't You Cry (Mary Kubica)--I think I've read other things by this author. She was entertaining. A couple twists. Good mystery. No urgency to ready anything else by her right now.
5. The Last of the Doughboys (Richard Rubin)--Great book, maybe not top 10, but I do recommend it. It just took me a loooonng time to finish it. (It is a loooonng book). I learned a lot about World War I. It made me sad that I didn't meet more WWI vets and talk to them before they were all gone.
6. Night Train to Memphis (Elizabeth Peters)--A classic, especially when read by Barbara Rosenblat.
What's up next?
Well, at the moment, I have these checked out of the library:
When I'm Gone (Emily Bleeker)
The Alice Network (Kate Quinn)
Close to Home (Robert Dugoni)
California (Edan Lepuki)
Commonwealth (Ann Patchett
For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood...and the Rest of Y'all Too (Christopher Emdin)
The Proving (Beverly Lewis)
I've also committed to a semi-informal book study at school, we're reading Teaching Adolescents with Autism (Walter G. Kaweski) and to reading another Amazon pick from a few months ago, Beneath a Scarlet Sky (Mark Sullivan) because one of my other co-workers read it and wants to talk to someone about it....so I'd say I have enough to keep me busy for the month.
Happy reading!
Sunday, September 17, 2017
August 2017 books!
Hello...
This blogging thing may not be as used as it once was...
Books from August 2017:
1. The Painted Queen (Elizabeth Peters)--Long-awaited and much anticipated. Apparently, Barbara Mertz (Elizabeth Peters) was working on this book when she passed away. There was possibly a lot of drama behind the scenes, as the family and the estate tried to figure out if and how to publish it. Eventually, a friend of hers who is also a writer stepped up and finished the book. There are some "errors" in the story--things that I don't think Peters would have let slip through, but nothing too terrible. The book also set in the middle of the series, so we all know "what happens next" anyway. It was a nice book, a good way to say goodbye (one more time) to Peters and her characters.
2. Matchup (Edited by Lee Childs)--This is a collection of short stories (some fairly long) written by mystery writers in a partnership. It probably would have been a lot more entertaining if I knew more of the authors. Diana Gabaldon was a contributor and many of the other stories were entertaining. (Glad it came from the library though, not purchased).
3. in Scarlett (Elizabeth Peters)--CD in the car--always entertaining to listen to Barbara Rosenblat perform Elizabeth Peters.
4. Loved (PC and Kristin Cast)--The Casts say that they never intended to write another sequel, but for some reason (that they never really explain, but hint at) they did. It looks like there are going to be more books in this post sequel series. If you read the earlier novels, worth reading, if you didn't, don't start with this one.
5 And the Rest Is History (Jodie Taylor)-Entertaining as always...
6. One for Sorrow (Mary Downing Hahn)--Not what I thought it was. Someone (or maybe I read somewhere) recommended it as a ghost story, turns out it is by an author I've read before and really was an upper elementary school age book. Quick read.
7. Option B (Sheryl Sanberg and Adam Grant)--Interesting book. She references "Lean In" a lot and how clueless she was. It was an interesting book about how to deal with unexpected things in life.
8. In the Clearing (Robert Dugoni)--Can I say I enjoyed a murder mystery? I did....Robert Dugoni is very entertaining.
9. Long Way Gone (Charles Martin)--I thought I had read everything by Charles Martin, then I saw this and didn't think I had...then I started reading and it is a very familiar story....but just published. So maybe I read an excerpt or summary? I always love Charles Martin's stories--a good read. Follows a former country songwriter with flashbacks and current story.
10. Trojan Gold (Elizabeth Peters)--CD in car--see # 3 :)
This blogging thing may not be as used as it once was...
Books from August 2017:
1. The Painted Queen (Elizabeth Peters)--Long-awaited and much anticipated. Apparently, Barbara Mertz (Elizabeth Peters) was working on this book when she passed away. There was possibly a lot of drama behind the scenes, as the family and the estate tried to figure out if and how to publish it. Eventually, a friend of hers who is also a writer stepped up and finished the book. There are some "errors" in the story--things that I don't think Peters would have let slip through, but nothing too terrible. The book also set in the middle of the series, so we all know "what happens next" anyway. It was a nice book, a good way to say goodbye (one more time) to Peters and her characters.
2. Matchup (Edited by Lee Childs)--This is a collection of short stories (some fairly long) written by mystery writers in a partnership. It probably would have been a lot more entertaining if I knew more of the authors. Diana Gabaldon was a contributor and many of the other stories were entertaining. (Glad it came from the library though, not purchased).
3. in Scarlett (Elizabeth Peters)--CD in the car--always entertaining to listen to Barbara Rosenblat perform Elizabeth Peters.
4. Loved (PC and Kristin Cast)--The Casts say that they never intended to write another sequel, but for some reason (that they never really explain, but hint at) they did. It looks like there are going to be more books in this post sequel series. If you read the earlier novels, worth reading, if you didn't, don't start with this one.
5 And the Rest Is History (Jodie Taylor)-Entertaining as always...
6. One for Sorrow (Mary Downing Hahn)--Not what I thought it was. Someone (or maybe I read somewhere) recommended it as a ghost story, turns out it is by an author I've read before and really was an upper elementary school age book. Quick read.
7. Option B (Sheryl Sanberg and Adam Grant)--Interesting book. She references "Lean In" a lot and how clueless she was. It was an interesting book about how to deal with unexpected things in life.
8. In the Clearing (Robert Dugoni)--Can I say I enjoyed a murder mystery? I did....Robert Dugoni is very entertaining.
9. Long Way Gone (Charles Martin)--I thought I had read everything by Charles Martin, then I saw this and didn't think I had...then I started reading and it is a very familiar story....but just published. So maybe I read an excerpt or summary? I always love Charles Martin's stories--a good read. Follows a former country songwriter with flashbacks and current story.
10. Trojan Gold (Elizabeth Peters)--CD in car--see # 3 :)
Saturday, August 5, 2017
July 2017 Books
1. Unbreakable (Angela Watson)--a book for teachers to get re-inspired--it was good, nothing earth shattering (or worth the $26 on Amazon, thanks, again, public library), but a good read. I'm going to watch for it at used book sales and resales on Amazon, I wouldn't mind having a (cheaper) copy of it to show and share with other teachers.
2. Voyager (Diana Gabaldon)--re-read, still good
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (JK Rawling)--on CD, in the car, during road trip
4. The Grownup (Gillian Flynn)--not her best work, but a good, quick (spooky) read.
5. Dark Places (Gillian Flynn)--Much better than Gone Girl because the ending wasn't weird. Very suspenseful, good book.
6. Henry's Sisters (Cathy Lamb)--My parents' book club was reading this so they let me read and sit in. Good book. I've read other things by Cathy Lamb and liked them as well. This one was about three (dysfunctional?) sisters and their brother.
7. Around the World in 80 Days (Jules Verne)--read by Jim Dale. I'd listen to Jim Dale read my grocery list. A good book for the car trip through--the audio book we got from the library was well done.
8. My Sister's Grave (Robert Dugoni)--I think I got this for free through the Kindle Owners Prime Monthly book thing (got that?) I've had it on my Kindle for a while and hadn't read it--it was very good! Looks like it is a series. It centers around a female homicide detective in the Seattle area. Good read.
9. Her Final Breath (Robert Dugoni)--second in the series--just as good as the first!
10. The Orphan's Tale (Pam Jenoff)--about a group of circus performers during World War II. Loosely based on real people and real events.
Saturday, July 29, 2017
June 2017 books
Wow, its almost August and I'm just writing about June...hmmm...
1. Written in my Own Heart's Blood (Diana Gabaldon)--yes, I've read it before. I'm impatiently waiting for her new book, someday...it was still a good book.
2. Borrower of the Night (Elizabeth Peters)--borrowed the audiobook from the library and listened in the car and while I walked. Still good.
3. What Could Possibly Go Wrong (Jodi Taylor)--Might be the most recent in the time travel books. It was good--trashy like the rest, but entertaining. A good summer read.
4. Stitches in Time (Barbara Michaels)--audio book from library--enjoyed listening to one of my favorite spooky stories.
5. Ships and Strings and Wedding Rings (Jodi Taylor)--I was wrong--this one came next--still entertaining.
6. The Circle (Dave Eggers). It was good but not as suspenseful as I expected. Maybe because it has been so popular I suspected a few times what would happen next. Worth the read, don't know if I'll see the movie.
7. Lies, Damned Lies, and History (Jodi Taylor)--Maybe I should read my whole list before starting to write. Another time traveling story--still trashy, still entertaining.
8. The Great St. Mary's Day Out (Jodi Taylor)--ditto
9. My Name is Markham (Jodi Taylor)--ditto
10. The Scottish Prisoner (Diana Gabaldon)--I thought I had read this, but it wasn't as familiar as I expected. Even though the author calls this a short story, it has 560 pages, so, um, not short. It was a good story and filled in some pieces of her other stories.
11. Treasure Hunter's Number 4 (James Patterson)--Not even sure what it is really called. We listened to it in the car, it was meh.
12. Back Over There (Richard Rubin)--Was at a library outside our library system and saw this--looks interesting (cover says something about nonfiction time travel and WWI). Picked it up at the library and was fascinated. It is non-fiction--the Author wrote another book about WWI soldiers and this is actually the follow-up. I'm reading his first book now and frankly, "Back Over There" was better--it drew me in. Lots of pictures, stories, WWI trivia. Very interesting book.
13. Seven Stones to Stand or Fall (Diana Gabaldon)-a collection of short stories--5 previously published (I'd read 4) and 2 new ones. If you're an Outlander fan, read it
1. Written in my Own Heart's Blood (Diana Gabaldon)--yes, I've read it before. I'm impatiently waiting for her new book, someday...it was still a good book.
2. Borrower of the Night (Elizabeth Peters)--borrowed the audiobook from the library and listened in the car and while I walked. Still good.
3. What Could Possibly Go Wrong (Jodi Taylor)--Might be the most recent in the time travel books. It was good--trashy like the rest, but entertaining. A good summer read.
4. Stitches in Time (Barbara Michaels)--audio book from library--enjoyed listening to one of my favorite spooky stories.
5. Ships and Strings and Wedding Rings (Jodi Taylor)--I was wrong--this one came next--still entertaining.
6. The Circle (Dave Eggers). It was good but not as suspenseful as I expected. Maybe because it has been so popular I suspected a few times what would happen next. Worth the read, don't know if I'll see the movie.
7. Lies, Damned Lies, and History (Jodi Taylor)--Maybe I should read my whole list before starting to write. Another time traveling story--still trashy, still entertaining.
8. The Great St. Mary's Day Out (Jodi Taylor)--ditto
9. My Name is Markham (Jodi Taylor)--ditto
10. The Scottish Prisoner (Diana Gabaldon)--I thought I had read this, but it wasn't as familiar as I expected. Even though the author calls this a short story, it has 560 pages, so, um, not short. It was a good story and filled in some pieces of her other stories.
11. Treasure Hunter's Number 4 (James Patterson)--Not even sure what it is really called. We listened to it in the car, it was meh.
12. Back Over There (Richard Rubin)--Was at a library outside our library system and saw this--looks interesting (cover says something about nonfiction time travel and WWI). Picked it up at the library and was fascinated. It is non-fiction--the Author wrote another book about WWI soldiers and this is actually the follow-up. I'm reading his first book now and frankly, "Back Over There" was better--it drew me in. Lots of pictures, stories, WWI trivia. Very interesting book.
13. Seven Stones to Stand or Fall (Diana Gabaldon)-a collection of short stories--5 previously published (I'd read 4) and 2 new ones. If you're an Outlander fan, read it
Saturday, March 11, 2017
What I read in February 2017
I spent a couple weekends at the apartment with no internet (but books downloaded on my phone) and one (or two?) weekends home alone, so I read a lot in February. It also helped that my US History classes spent the whole month working on research projects, so their daily progress was recorded in class every day (so only half the grading as a usual month!). Now the papers are done, so we'll see how that goes!
1. Three Sisters, Three Queens (Philippa Gregory)-Not as engaging as some Philippa Gregory books, but very interesting historically. Historical fiction about Henry VIII's two sisters and his wife (who his sisters considered a sister at times). Lots of conjecture about what really happened, good story.
2. The Life We Bury (Allen Eskens)--in running for top ten along with the other two by him. I thought this book was awesome...then I read the 2nd...then I read the 3rd...the characters from book one appear in the other books, but not in a "sequel style", more in a "pay attention and you'll figure out things" style. First book is about a college project to interview someone. The student interviews a man released from life in prison because he is dying of cancer. I won't tell more, so you can read for yourself.
3. The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century (Sarah Miller)--nonfiction but reads like a novel--exactly what it says--describes the Borden murders and the trial. Written for young adults, so while it "tells all" it isn't too much. Includes some historical photos and drawings as well as the author's conclusion of "who done it".
4. The Guise of Another (Allen Eskens)-Picks up after The Life We Bury and the connection isn't immediately clear. In fact, I didn't realize it was a "sequel" until the middle of the book. The main character this time is a police officer.
5. The Heavens May Fall (Allen Eskens)--Unfortunately, this is the last book Eskens has completed...I'm hoping there will be more. I liked this one the best. Again, it is a mystery that the main character has to solve...good read.
6. The Premonition (Chris Bohjalian)-Actually a novella prequel to The Sleepwalker, which I have on hold. It was interesting, but felt like it didn't go anywhere (maybe it will feel more complete after I read the Sleepwalker)
7. Cause to Kill: An Avery Black Mystery (Blake Pierce)--Free on my Kindle, can't remember when I "bought" it. A mystery about a female police officer who used to be a District Attorney. The character was very complicated and more complications appeared as the book went on. It wasn't bad, it was an entertaining read, but I'm not in a hurry to buy or find the sequels. (But if you get it for free and need a mystery, it probably will work)
8. The Lady of the Lake: Frannie Shoemaker #5 (Karen Musser Mortman)--ditto to #7 except this time the mystery solvers are a group of retired friends who like to go camping. Apparently, this was book 5, didn't feel like I was missing much, so maybe they stand alone. Again, cool if you get for free, but I wouldn't pay for it or look too hard.
9. We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler (Russell Freedman)--Short, non-fiction. Good background on the White Rose that I didn't know or had forgotten. Lots of pictures and other graphics
10. Ashfall (Mike Mullin)-Another new found author/series--along with #11, 12 and 13 this tells the story of a teen boy in the midst of the fallout from an apocalyptic natural disaster. I think I liked the first book best, but I couldn't put any of them down. I'm excited to see what the author writes next!
11. Ashen Winter (Mike Mullin)
12. Sunrise (Mike Mullin)
13. Darla's Story (Mike Mullin)
14. I am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin and Raul Peck)--short book based on the current movie. It was interesting, but out of context since I haven't seen the movie. Adding "see movie" to my list ...
15. Comfort Me (Debbie Viguie)--the long-awaited next book in the Psalm 23 mysteries. It was good, not top 10 worthy, but a nice weekend read.
16. Book of Three Book 2...something about a cauldron? (Lloyd Alexander)--listend to in the car with The Boy. It was fine. I still think Lloyd Alexander ripped off Tolkien, but I"m sure people will disagree...
1. Three Sisters, Three Queens (Philippa Gregory)-Not as engaging as some Philippa Gregory books, but very interesting historically. Historical fiction about Henry VIII's two sisters and his wife (who his sisters considered a sister at times). Lots of conjecture about what really happened, good story.
2. The Life We Bury (Allen Eskens)--in running for top ten along with the other two by him. I thought this book was awesome...then I read the 2nd...then I read the 3rd...the characters from book one appear in the other books, but not in a "sequel style", more in a "pay attention and you'll figure out things" style. First book is about a college project to interview someone. The student interviews a man released from life in prison because he is dying of cancer. I won't tell more, so you can read for yourself.
3. The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden and the Trial of the Century (Sarah Miller)--nonfiction but reads like a novel--exactly what it says--describes the Borden murders and the trial. Written for young adults, so while it "tells all" it isn't too much. Includes some historical photos and drawings as well as the author's conclusion of "who done it".
4. The Guise of Another (Allen Eskens)-Picks up after The Life We Bury and the connection isn't immediately clear. In fact, I didn't realize it was a "sequel" until the middle of the book. The main character this time is a police officer.
5. The Heavens May Fall (Allen Eskens)--Unfortunately, this is the last book Eskens has completed...I'm hoping there will be more. I liked this one the best. Again, it is a mystery that the main character has to solve...good read.
6. The Premonition (Chris Bohjalian)-Actually a novella prequel to The Sleepwalker, which I have on hold. It was interesting, but felt like it didn't go anywhere (maybe it will feel more complete after I read the Sleepwalker)
7. Cause to Kill: An Avery Black Mystery (Blake Pierce)--Free on my Kindle, can't remember when I "bought" it. A mystery about a female police officer who used to be a District Attorney. The character was very complicated and more complications appeared as the book went on. It wasn't bad, it was an entertaining read, but I'm not in a hurry to buy or find the sequels. (But if you get it for free and need a mystery, it probably will work)
8. The Lady of the Lake: Frannie Shoemaker #5 (Karen Musser Mortman)--ditto to #7 except this time the mystery solvers are a group of retired friends who like to go camping. Apparently, this was book 5, didn't feel like I was missing much, so maybe they stand alone. Again, cool if you get for free, but I wouldn't pay for it or look too hard.
9. We Will Not Be Silent: The White Rose Student Resistance Movement That Defied Adolf Hitler (Russell Freedman)--Short, non-fiction. Good background on the White Rose that I didn't know or had forgotten. Lots of pictures and other graphics
10. Ashfall (Mike Mullin)-Another new found author/series--along with #11, 12 and 13 this tells the story of a teen boy in the midst of the fallout from an apocalyptic natural disaster. I think I liked the first book best, but I couldn't put any of them down. I'm excited to see what the author writes next!
11. Ashen Winter (Mike Mullin)
12. Sunrise (Mike Mullin)
13. Darla's Story (Mike Mullin)
14. I am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin and Raul Peck)--short book based on the current movie. It was interesting, but out of context since I haven't seen the movie. Adding "see movie" to my list ...
15. Comfort Me (Debbie Viguie)--the long-awaited next book in the Psalm 23 mysteries. It was good, not top 10 worthy, but a nice weekend read.
16. Book of Three Book 2...something about a cauldron? (Lloyd Alexander)--listend to in the car with The Boy. It was fine. I still think Lloyd Alexander ripped off Tolkien, but I"m sure people will disagree...
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
What I read in January 2017
With no further ado, the much overdue first book blog of 2017...
1. The Hammer of Thor (Rick Riordan)--I guess I was behind on my Rick Riordan reading, because I came across this one (from the Magnus Chase series) and the next one (from the Apollo series) at the same time. Both a a quick read, very engaging, carry on the stories of Riordan's characters. I enjoyed them.
2. The Hidden Oracle (Rick Riordan) See #1
3. Among Wolves (RA Hakok)--picked this up for free on my Kindle app and it was a good read. A post-apocalyptic story about some kids who survive "the end of the world" because they were on a White House tour. Has a mystery, some drama--I guess there are going to be several books in the series, this one and the sequel are published (see #10).
4. Lilac Girls (Martha Hall Kelly)--I really like how the author took several different stories and brought them all together at the end. It is semi-historical, set during World War II, and follows women from America and from Europe.
5. The Princess Diarist (Carrie Fisher)--A good read, I put it on my hold list at the library shortly after Ms. Fisher died and it came to me quickly. About half the book was actually her diary from the time though, not really edited for publication, so it was like reading a 20 year old woman's diary (which is what it is titled, so no surprise I guess). I liked her non-diary writing portions..it was worth the read, but not top 10 worthy.
6. The Escape (Hannah Jayne)--I really like Ms. Jaynes' books-they all have a great twist that is unexpected. This one was not disappointing.
7. Salt to the Sea (Ruta Sepetys)--really loved this book. About refugees at the very end of World War II. It follows a group of acquaintances as they try to find safety and end up on a ship that sinks. There is an "afterward" as well and a good historical base for the story. It was not quite top 10, but was a very good read about an overlooked WWII event.
8. Sword of Ptolomy (Rick Riordan)--Read it quick on my phone, I think it is only available digitally. Typical Riordan, a good quick read.
9. The Book of Three (Lloyd Alexander) on CD--I have never read this series, even though I knew it existed. The Boy found it on CD so we gave it a try. It reminds me a lot of the Hobbit and of Narnia, and a little of Arthur. A good book to listen to in the car, the narrator didn't make me sleepy.
10. The Devil You Know (RA Hakok)-Book two of the series (see #3)
11. The Missing (Caroline Eriksson)--Left me wondering through the whole book if the main character was losing her mind or if there was something else going on. A good mystery.
12. Walk into Silence (Susan McBride)--book one in a series about a female detective. I want to read more, but I'm not excited about it, so it is on "the list" to read later. Very entertaining.
Last January I read 13 book, but the year before only 8..so I'm off to a decent, if not fast, start.
I also read about half of a book that I gave up on, I think it was called "Everyone brave will be forgiven". It was about education in England during World War II, presented through a love triangle....I may pick it up again some day, but not right not.
1. The Hammer of Thor (Rick Riordan)--I guess I was behind on my Rick Riordan reading, because I came across this one (from the Magnus Chase series) and the next one (from the Apollo series) at the same time. Both a a quick read, very engaging, carry on the stories of Riordan's characters. I enjoyed them.
2. The Hidden Oracle (Rick Riordan) See #1
3. Among Wolves (RA Hakok)--picked this up for free on my Kindle app and it was a good read. A post-apocalyptic story about some kids who survive "the end of the world" because they were on a White House tour. Has a mystery, some drama--I guess there are going to be several books in the series, this one and the sequel are published (see #10).
4. Lilac Girls (Martha Hall Kelly)--I really like how the author took several different stories and brought them all together at the end. It is semi-historical, set during World War II, and follows women from America and from Europe.
5. The Princess Diarist (Carrie Fisher)--A good read, I put it on my hold list at the library shortly after Ms. Fisher died and it came to me quickly. About half the book was actually her diary from the time though, not really edited for publication, so it was like reading a 20 year old woman's diary (which is what it is titled, so no surprise I guess). I liked her non-diary writing portions..it was worth the read, but not top 10 worthy.
6. The Escape (Hannah Jayne)--I really like Ms. Jaynes' books-they all have a great twist that is unexpected. This one was not disappointing.
7. Salt to the Sea (Ruta Sepetys)--really loved this book. About refugees at the very end of World War II. It follows a group of acquaintances as they try to find safety and end up on a ship that sinks. There is an "afterward" as well and a good historical base for the story. It was not quite top 10, but was a very good read about an overlooked WWII event.
8. Sword of Ptolomy (Rick Riordan)--Read it quick on my phone, I think it is only available digitally. Typical Riordan, a good quick read.
9. The Book of Three (Lloyd Alexander) on CD--I have never read this series, even though I knew it existed. The Boy found it on CD so we gave it a try. It reminds me a lot of the Hobbit and of Narnia, and a little of Arthur. A good book to listen to in the car, the narrator didn't make me sleepy.
10. The Devil You Know (RA Hakok)-Book two of the series (see #3)
11. The Missing (Caroline Eriksson)--Left me wondering through the whole book if the main character was losing her mind or if there was something else going on. A good mystery.
12. Walk into Silence (Susan McBride)--book one in a series about a female detective. I want to read more, but I'm not excited about it, so it is on "the list" to read later. Very entertaining.
Last January I read 13 book, but the year before only 8..so I'm off to a decent, if not fast, start.
I also read about half of a book that I gave up on, I think it was called "Everyone brave will be forgiven". It was about education in England during World War II, presented through a love triangle....I may pick it up again some day, but not right not.
Wednesday, January 4, 2017
Books I read in December 2016 (There were a bunch...)
I finally read some books in December...maybe because it was cold? Or because some weekends (when I'm at the apartment) I don't have internet? In any case, here's the list:
1. The Slave Dancer (Paula Fox)--This was one of The Boy's "Junior Great Books" (Middle School book club) books. I'm not sure with this one, as with many of the others, of what makes it a "great book". It isn't a bad book, but I didn't love it either. It is about a young boy in America in the early 1800's who is kidnapped and pressed into service aboard a slave ship. There is a shipwreck and he is one of only two survivors. It is allegedly based on a true story, sort of.
2. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living (Louise Miller)-There was a cute excerpt in Reader's Digest a couple months ago and I requested the book from the library. It was cute. The main character is a baker who is fired from her hoity-toity baking job in the city and goes to hide out at her best friend's house in the country. She ends up working at a B and B. There is a love story that is cute and some friendships that are nice.
3. Hostage Taker (Stephanie Pintoff)-Another book that was featured in Reader's Digest. A mystery/thriller about a woman who works for the FBI as a hostage negotiator. There is a sequel (see #5) and supposedly more will be added. Good story, not predictable.
4. Twisted (Hannah Jayne)-Picked it up in the teen section of the library while waiting for The Boy. About a girl whose dad is allegedly a serial killer who disappeared when she was very young. She has a new identity and a new foster family and there is a mystery. Good mystery.
5. City on Edge (Stephanie Pintoff)--Sequel to #3--develops the characters more. Another good suspenseful mystery.
6. Turbo Twenty-Two (Jane Evanovich)--I was thrilled that my hold on this book became available during break (so I could read it almost in one sitting). Like the other Stephanie Plum books, this one is a trashy mystery, but so entertaining. Loved reading about Stephanie and her friends and their latest adventures.
7. It Is Well (James Shipman)-Meh. An Amazon reader (or whatever that is called) monthly (free) choice. About a family in the Western US during WWII. There was just a lot going on--maybe too much. It was based on true events in the US, in Europe, and in the Pacific and sometimes felt like the author was trying too hard to connect all the pieces.
8. Finding Fraser (KC Dyer)-Very cute book. The main character decides that since she is fired from her job at a coffee shop that she will go to Scotland and find a husband, like the Scottish main character from Outlander (Jamie Fraser). She has lots of misadventures. It's cute.
9. See Jane Run (Hannah Jayne)-By the same author as #4. It was interesting. The main character thinks that she might have been abducted as a child. There is a mystery, some adventure, and then a solution. Again, there was a lot going on--it was good, but not spectacular.
10. Who do You Love? (Jill Weiner)-Another cute book--seemed to be a lot this month. Follows two people from they are kids until they are in their 40's. They live in different towns and have very different lives, but their paths keep crossing.
11. White Picket Fences (Susan Meissner)-I really like Meissner's books, but sometimes the endings have me scratching my head--this was one of those. It is about a modern family and a World War 2 mystery, but there is also a modern mystery about something that happened to one of the modern teenagers when he was a kid. There isn't really a connection in the end.
12. A Sound Among the Trees (Susan Meissner)--Another modern story but this one has a Civil War mystery. The story was really good, but about a third of the book was a Civil War diary. It was a great story, but hard to follow as a diary. Seemed like a lot of time spent "listening" to one person's point of view instead of following everyone as characters.
13.Night Road (Kristin Hannah)--Really enjoyed this book-- there are a couple twists that I didn't see coming. It follows a set of twins, the girl twins best friend, and the parents of the twins through high school and their 20's. There is a tragedy in the middle and some resolution very late in the book.
14. Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Ally Carter)--Waited a long time to read this--it is the 3rd in the Embassy Row series. I think it is the last book in the series, although maybe not (it seemed like everything was pretty resolved?). A quick read and answered "what happened" well.
That brings the total for 2016 to :87..not as spectacular as some years, but more than a book a week, so I guess I can't complain.
Stay tuned for my top 10 list...being calculated now!
1. The Slave Dancer (Paula Fox)--This was one of The Boy's "Junior Great Books" (Middle School book club) books. I'm not sure with this one, as with many of the others, of what makes it a "great book". It isn't a bad book, but I didn't love it either. It is about a young boy in America in the early 1800's who is kidnapped and pressed into service aboard a slave ship. There is a shipwreck and he is one of only two survivors. It is allegedly based on a true story, sort of.
2. The City Baker's Guide to Country Living (Louise Miller)-There was a cute excerpt in Reader's Digest a couple months ago and I requested the book from the library. It was cute. The main character is a baker who is fired from her hoity-toity baking job in the city and goes to hide out at her best friend's house in the country. She ends up working at a B and B. There is a love story that is cute and some friendships that are nice.
3. Hostage Taker (Stephanie Pintoff)-Another book that was featured in Reader's Digest. A mystery/thriller about a woman who works for the FBI as a hostage negotiator. There is a sequel (see #5) and supposedly more will be added. Good story, not predictable.
4. Twisted (Hannah Jayne)-Picked it up in the teen section of the library while waiting for The Boy. About a girl whose dad is allegedly a serial killer who disappeared when she was very young. She has a new identity and a new foster family and there is a mystery. Good mystery.
5. City on Edge (Stephanie Pintoff)--Sequel to #3--develops the characters more. Another good suspenseful mystery.
6. Turbo Twenty-Two (Jane Evanovich)--I was thrilled that my hold on this book became available during break (so I could read it almost in one sitting). Like the other Stephanie Plum books, this one is a trashy mystery, but so entertaining. Loved reading about Stephanie and her friends and their latest adventures.
7. It Is Well (James Shipman)-Meh. An Amazon reader (or whatever that is called) monthly (free) choice. About a family in the Western US during WWII. There was just a lot going on--maybe too much. It was based on true events in the US, in Europe, and in the Pacific and sometimes felt like the author was trying too hard to connect all the pieces.
8. Finding Fraser (KC Dyer)-Very cute book. The main character decides that since she is fired from her job at a coffee shop that she will go to Scotland and find a husband, like the Scottish main character from Outlander (Jamie Fraser). She has lots of misadventures. It's cute.
9. See Jane Run (Hannah Jayne)-By the same author as #4. It was interesting. The main character thinks that she might have been abducted as a child. There is a mystery, some adventure, and then a solution. Again, there was a lot going on--it was good, but not spectacular.
10. Who do You Love? (Jill Weiner)-Another cute book--seemed to be a lot this month. Follows two people from they are kids until they are in their 40's. They live in different towns and have very different lives, but their paths keep crossing.
11. White Picket Fences (Susan Meissner)-I really like Meissner's books, but sometimes the endings have me scratching my head--this was one of those. It is about a modern family and a World War 2 mystery, but there is also a modern mystery about something that happened to one of the modern teenagers when he was a kid. There isn't really a connection in the end.
12. A Sound Among the Trees (Susan Meissner)--Another modern story but this one has a Civil War mystery. The story was really good, but about a third of the book was a Civil War diary. It was a great story, but hard to follow as a diary. Seemed like a lot of time spent "listening" to one person's point of view instead of following everyone as characters.
13.Night Road (Kristin Hannah)--Really enjoyed this book-- there are a couple twists that I didn't see coming. It follows a set of twins, the girl twins best friend, and the parents of the twins through high school and their 20's. There is a tragedy in the middle and some resolution very late in the book.
14. Take the Key and Lock Her Up (Ally Carter)--Waited a long time to read this--it is the 3rd in the Embassy Row series. I think it is the last book in the series, although maybe not (it seemed like everything was pretty resolved?). A quick read and answered "what happened" well.
That brings the total for 2016 to :87..not as spectacular as some years, but more than a book a week, so I guess I can't complain.
Stay tuned for my top 10 list...being calculated now!
Sunday, December 11, 2016
What I read, October 2016
Here we go....
1. At the Water's Edge (Sara Gruen)--Like Water for Elephants, this book has a young female main character who is in a bad situation. It is historical fiction. The description on Amazon really doesn't tell much of what the book is about-I wasn't sure I wanted to read it after that description, but enjoyed the book.
2. Finding Bliss (Dina Silver)--Recommended by a friend and ironically had a lot in common with At the Water's Edge. I didn't love it, but it was a quick read. I might have liked it more if I hadn't just read such a similar book!
3. Orange is the New Black (Piper Kerman)--My mom kept recommending it and I was baffled...I mean, haven't all my friends told me what happens on the tv show? Turns out the book and the tv show have little in common...same basic premise, but real life wasn't as exciting in most ways as the show is. Book is about redemption and "finding yourself". Good read.
4. Blood on the Tracks (Barbara Nickless)--Intriguing book--about a female vet and her search and rescue dog who work in law enforcement in the US. A sequel is due out next year. I liked this book, I'm kind of curious about what "happens next" but not super curious. Good book...waiting to see what happens next.
5. Secrets of a Charmed Life (Susan Meissner)--I really like how Meissner weaves together historic (fictional) stories with modern (fictional) stories. This time it revolves around two sisters, separated during World War II and a young woman interviewing a WWII survivor.
6. The Winter Garden (Kristin Hannah)--Another story with a connection to WWII and a family secret.
Contestants for top 10 of 2016:
Orange is the New Black
Secrets of a Charmed Life
The Winter Garden
1. At the Water's Edge (Sara Gruen)--Like Water for Elephants, this book has a young female main character who is in a bad situation. It is historical fiction. The description on Amazon really doesn't tell much of what the book is about-I wasn't sure I wanted to read it after that description, but enjoyed the book.
2. Finding Bliss (Dina Silver)--Recommended by a friend and ironically had a lot in common with At the Water's Edge. I didn't love it, but it was a quick read. I might have liked it more if I hadn't just read such a similar book!
3. Orange is the New Black (Piper Kerman)--My mom kept recommending it and I was baffled...I mean, haven't all my friends told me what happens on the tv show? Turns out the book and the tv show have little in common...same basic premise, but real life wasn't as exciting in most ways as the show is. Book is about redemption and "finding yourself". Good read.
4. Blood on the Tracks (Barbara Nickless)--Intriguing book--about a female vet and her search and rescue dog who work in law enforcement in the US. A sequel is due out next year. I liked this book, I'm kind of curious about what "happens next" but not super curious. Good book...waiting to see what happens next.
5. Secrets of a Charmed Life (Susan Meissner)--I really like how Meissner weaves together historic (fictional) stories with modern (fictional) stories. This time it revolves around two sisters, separated during World War II and a young woman interviewing a WWII survivor.
6. The Winter Garden (Kristin Hannah)--Another story with a connection to WWII and a family secret.
Contestants for top 10 of 2016:
Orange is the New Black
Secrets of a Charmed Life
The Winter Garden
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
What I read in May, June, and July...Boom...
I'm back...
As soon as I can carve out a few minutes (hours?) I have posts on our Alaska trip--details to follow. For now, here's an easy post--what I've been reading while MIA...I'll be brief (because let's face it, if you care, you can look up the books at your library or on Amazon)
May:
1. Masters of Disaster (Gary Paulsen) CD--An oldie but goodie....listened to in car during last weeks of school. Quoted it all summer..."I'm ok!"
2. Drums of Autumn (Diana Gabaldon)--Mindless because I've read it before...didn't have to think about it
3. The Westing Game on CD--by The Boy's request-always a classic...got us through the end of the year
June:
1. Dead Wake (Erik Larson)-Description says it is about the last voyage of the Lusitania, however, it has much more about how the US actually ended up in WWI. I was a little disappointed, because I expected it to follow a few characters and their adventures, and it did, but it also had a lot about what was happening in the US and the world (which was interesting, just not what I thought it would be)
2. Wicked Appetite (Janet Evanovich) Audio--Author of the Stephanie Plum novels, good, pretty short. Listened to during the 2 weeks I actually got up early and walked.
3. Wicked Business (Janet Evanovich) Audio
4. Pete and the Starcatchers (Dave Barry) Audio-Listened to with The Boy while driving The Girl around the county
5. Bless Me Ultima (Rudolfo Amaya)-The Girl's summer reading assignment for Honors English. It was good, about a young boy and his family in the SW US right after WW II.
6. Sherlock Holmes: Knife's Edge (Andrew Lane)-Picked it up at library in teen tower while waiting for The Boy to pick a book. It was good, didn't realize it was book 3 or 4 of series until the middle. Picked up book 1 later (see below) and wasn't as impressed. This one was very traditional Sherlock Holmes.
7. If You Find Me (Emily Murdoch)-Another one picked up while waiting for The Boy. About a teenage girl who lives in the wilderness with her mom and sister and one day while the mom has been gone for a month a social worker shows up. Interesting perspective on what it would be like to "join the 21st century" after living years without modern conveniences.
8. Pete and the Shadow Thieves (Dave Barry) Audio-Read by Jim Dale, continues the story of how Peter Pan became Peter Pan. Good in the car.
July:
1. The Oregon Trail (Rinker Buck)--About a modern day (2011?) journey following the Oregon Trail. Good book.
2. Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud (Andrew Lane)--book one of the series, not as good as I thought it would be, but a nice short mystery read
3. Life As We Knew It (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Picked up in teen tower. Series of 4 books, I think I might have read them kind of out of order. Thought it was going to be a teen/chick lit book, but on about page 20 the moon is hit by an asteroid and it becomes dystopian--All four books are pretty short and engaging. Enjoyed the series (although it was a little horrifying at times).
4. 14 (Peter Clines)--Recommended by my friend, W. Loved it! Starts out as a typical mystery and becomes a sci-fi mystery.
5. Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (Dave Barry) Audio--Continues the story...one more book to go, I think!
6. The Dead and the Gone (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Book 2, of series (see #3)
7. This World We Live In (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Book 3, of series (see #3)--I read this one before book 2, because I had it checked out on my kindle and we were without internet on the ship. There were a couple confusing parts, since I missed book 2...but after reading book 2, I think they were supposed to be confusing...
8. Laughter of Dead Kings (Elizabeth Peters) Audio--Have it on my car HD drive...listened while driving from place to place without kids...
Possible for Top 10 of 2016:
The Oregon Trail
14
As soon as I can carve out a few minutes (hours?) I have posts on our Alaska trip--details to follow. For now, here's an easy post--what I've been reading while MIA...I'll be brief (because let's face it, if you care, you can look up the books at your library or on Amazon)
May:
1. Masters of Disaster (Gary Paulsen) CD--An oldie but goodie....listened to in car during last weeks of school. Quoted it all summer..."I'm ok!"
2. Drums of Autumn (Diana Gabaldon)--Mindless because I've read it before...didn't have to think about it
3. The Westing Game on CD--by The Boy's request-always a classic...got us through the end of the year
June:
1. Dead Wake (Erik Larson)-Description says it is about the last voyage of the Lusitania, however, it has much more about how the US actually ended up in WWI. I was a little disappointed, because I expected it to follow a few characters and their adventures, and it did, but it also had a lot about what was happening in the US and the world (which was interesting, just not what I thought it would be)
2. Wicked Appetite (Janet Evanovich) Audio--Author of the Stephanie Plum novels, good, pretty short. Listened to during the 2 weeks I actually got up early and walked.
3. Wicked Business (Janet Evanovich) Audio
4. Pete and the Starcatchers (Dave Barry) Audio-Listened to with The Boy while driving The Girl around the county
5. Bless Me Ultima (Rudolfo Amaya)-The Girl's summer reading assignment for Honors English. It was good, about a young boy and his family in the SW US right after WW II.
6. Sherlock Holmes: Knife's Edge (Andrew Lane)-Picked it up at library in teen tower while waiting for The Boy to pick a book. It was good, didn't realize it was book 3 or 4 of series until the middle. Picked up book 1 later (see below) and wasn't as impressed. This one was very traditional Sherlock Holmes.
7. If You Find Me (Emily Murdoch)-Another one picked up while waiting for The Boy. About a teenage girl who lives in the wilderness with her mom and sister and one day while the mom has been gone for a month a social worker shows up. Interesting perspective on what it would be like to "join the 21st century" after living years without modern conveniences.
8. Pete and the Shadow Thieves (Dave Barry) Audio-Read by Jim Dale, continues the story of how Peter Pan became Peter Pan. Good in the car.
July:
1. The Oregon Trail (Rinker Buck)--About a modern day (2011?) journey following the Oregon Trail. Good book.
2. Sherlock Holmes: Death Cloud (Andrew Lane)--book one of the series, not as good as I thought it would be, but a nice short mystery read
3. Life As We Knew It (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Picked up in teen tower. Series of 4 books, I think I might have read them kind of out of order. Thought it was going to be a teen/chick lit book, but on about page 20 the moon is hit by an asteroid and it becomes dystopian--All four books are pretty short and engaging. Enjoyed the series (although it was a little horrifying at times).
4. 14 (Peter Clines)--Recommended by my friend, W. Loved it! Starts out as a typical mystery and becomes a sci-fi mystery.
5. Peter and the Secret of Rundoon (Dave Barry) Audio--Continues the story...one more book to go, I think!
6. The Dead and the Gone (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Book 2, of series (see #3)
7. This World We Live In (Susan Beth Pfeffer)--Book 3, of series (see #3)--I read this one before book 2, because I had it checked out on my kindle and we were without internet on the ship. There were a couple confusing parts, since I missed book 2...but after reading book 2, I think they were supposed to be confusing...
8. Laughter of Dead Kings (Elizabeth Peters) Audio--Have it on my car HD drive...listened while driving from place to place without kids...
Possible for Top 10 of 2016:
The Oregon Trail
14
Monday, May 23, 2016
What I read in April..Alternate Title, Egads, its almost June
I promise I'm alive, just busy!
As the school year wraps up, I have to say I'm bummed to lose two of my favorite classes ever--they are juniors, so they will be back next year, but, golly, our class(es) will never be all together again.
Morrison continues to grow at an astounding rate, some day acting like a toddler and other days like a teenager..she is a sweet puppy, but a bit of a troublemaker when it comes to plants (I'll provide photo evidence later...suffice it to say that she has never met a plant that she allows to remain in its pot).
I also seem to be spending a lot of time in the car again, although I can't pinpoint exactly why--there are no current sports!
So in April I only read one book..and it was a re-read so I don't know if it really counts--Voyager (by Diana Gabaldon)--I did listen to The Blood of Olympus (Rick Riordan) with The Boy in the car--for a grand total of 2 book--eesh. In May I may read 3....
As the school year wraps up, I have to say I'm bummed to lose two of my favorite classes ever--they are juniors, so they will be back next year, but, golly, our class(es) will never be all together again.
Morrison continues to grow at an astounding rate, some day acting like a toddler and other days like a teenager..she is a sweet puppy, but a bit of a troublemaker when it comes to plants (I'll provide photo evidence later...suffice it to say that she has never met a plant that she allows to remain in its pot).
I also seem to be spending a lot of time in the car again, although I can't pinpoint exactly why--there are no current sports!
So in April I only read one book..and it was a re-read so I don't know if it really counts--Voyager (by Diana Gabaldon)--I did listen to The Blood of Olympus (Rick Riordan) with The Boy in the car--for a grand total of 2 book--eesh. In May I may read 3....
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Top Ten Books of 2015
Ok...here we go... My top 10 of 2015.....(in no particular order). I've included the months so you can read my "original" blurbs if you want to...
1. The Shadowy Horses (Susana Kearsley)--February
2. A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest Gaines)--June
3. Saint Odd (Dean Koontz)--March--Makes the list because it was a nice ending to the series, which was one of my favorites. It will be interesting to see what Koonz does next.
4. The Boston Girl (Anita Diamant)-April--Just looked to see if Diamant has anything new and I don't see anything yet...sigh.
5. Outlander and sequels (Diana Gabaldon)--May through December (not cheating, can't choose just one...some are better than others though...)
6. Come Rain or Come Shine (Jan Karon)--October--Again, a nice ending to the series (or at least a nice "new" book to the series)
7. A Fall of Marigolds (Susan Meissner)--August
8. A Life Intercepted (Charles Martin)--July
9. Career of Evil (Robert Galbraith)-December
10. Tricky Twenty-Two (Janet Evanovich)--only if you've read the other 21 books though, I suppose
Honorable Mention:
*The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion)--September--only gets honorable mention because I made myself read the other other two books to find out how everything ended.
*Magnus chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer (Rick Riodan)--October--maybe was one of my top 10 ,but I didn't read it until October and the list was getting full. I think if you love Riordan books, you'll enjoy this....and if you don't, well, you won't...
*Go Set a Watchman (Harper Lee)--September--still not sure I really liked it...but it was thought provoking. It's on the "read again someday" list
*Bossy Pants (Tina Fey)--July--
*Tattoos on the Heart (Gregory Boyle)--May
Year in Review:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December's post won't be live until January 2, and I'm writing this beforehand...but I'm confident you can find December if you haven't read it yet!
1. The Shadowy Horses (Susana Kearsley)--February
2. A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest Gaines)--June
3. Saint Odd (Dean Koontz)--March--Makes the list because it was a nice ending to the series, which was one of my favorites. It will be interesting to see what Koonz does next.
4. The Boston Girl (Anita Diamant)-April--Just looked to see if Diamant has anything new and I don't see anything yet...sigh.
5. Outlander and sequels (Diana Gabaldon)--May through December (not cheating, can't choose just one...some are better than others though...)
6. Come Rain or Come Shine (Jan Karon)--October--Again, a nice ending to the series (or at least a nice "new" book to the series)
7. A Fall of Marigolds (Susan Meissner)--August
8. A Life Intercepted (Charles Martin)--July
9. Career of Evil (Robert Galbraith)-December
10. Tricky Twenty-Two (Janet Evanovich)--only if you've read the other 21 books though, I suppose
Honorable Mention:
*The Rosie Project (Graeme Simsion)--September--only gets honorable mention because I made myself read the other other two books to find out how everything ended.
*Magnus chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer (Rick Riodan)--October--maybe was one of my top 10 ,but I didn't read it until October and the list was getting full. I think if you love Riordan books, you'll enjoy this....and if you don't, well, you won't...
*Go Set a Watchman (Harper Lee)--September--still not sure I really liked it...but it was thought provoking. It's on the "read again someday" list
*Bossy Pants (Tina Fey)--July--
*Tattoos on the Heart (Gregory Boyle)--May
Year in Review:
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December's post won't be live until January 2, and I'm writing this beforehand...but I'm confident you can find December if you haven't read it yet!
Thursday, December 3, 2015
What I read in November 2015
November might have been some kind of record...five books, all by the same author--I might be addicted...
1. A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows (Diana Gabaldon)
2. The Space Between (Diana Gabaldon)
3. In the Custom of the Army (Diana Gabaldon)
4. Drums of Autumn (Diana Gabaldon)
5. The Fiery Cross (Diana Gabaldon)
I'm still enjoying Gabaldon's stories--they are entertaining. The new Robert Galbraith book did come into the library, so it is first on my December list (almost finished with it--very good so far!)
I'm still enjoying Gabaldon's stories--they are entertaining. The new Robert Galbraith book did come into the library, so it is first on my December list (almost finished with it--very good so far!)
Officially the first three were Novellas, but Gabaldon's novellas seems extra long, so I'm counting them as books.
Oh wait, The Boy and I did listen to The Lost Hero (Rick Riordan) in the car--it was good as only Rick Riordan books are...
The new puppy seems to be cutting into my book reading time...perhaps I'll read to her :)
Oh wait, The Boy and I did listen to The Lost Hero (Rick Riordan) in the car--it was good as only Rick Riordan books are...
The new puppy seems to be cutting into my book reading time...perhaps I'll read to her :)
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
What I read in June
There is a list a mile long of things I'm "supposed" to be doing this summer...including reading a book that our whole faculty is reading...instead I've read a whole stack of summer reads. It helps that we are still a one car family, so I've been carrying a book in the car to read while waiting in parking lots to pick up people or waiting places to be picked up. The other day I pulled a hardcover novel out of my giant purse while waiting somewhere with The Girl. I think she snorted before saying, "When did you steal Hermione's bag?" (In the Harry Potter series, one of the girls has a small, beaded purse that she has magically expanded so it can hold a tent, several changes of clothes, a whole library of books, and so on...). Needless to say, I've read quite a pile this summer...Again, I'm trusting that you can google or amazon these if you are interested in more or different information than I'm giving:
1. Aspen (Rebekah Crane)--One of the choices for my students to read this summer. It is definitely a "teen read", entertaining, with a little plot twist at the end. Like many of the other books on the summer reading list, death is one of the themes, but this one was not as dark as some of the others.
2. A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest J. Gaines)--One of my new favorites! My office mate told me I would love it and did. It is set in the 1950's in the South and is about a young teacher and his discoveries about himself as he visits with a former student who is condemned to death. Also on the summer reading list, also a serious book, but it was good...I ended it feeling hopeful, not sad like some of the others on the list.
3. American Wife (Taya Kyle)-When I told one of my students that I wasn't thrilled with American Sniper, he suggested I read this book. It was a more satisfying read, pretty much the same back story, but with Taya's twist, and then a description of her life after Chris's murder. Interesting read, worth the time.
4. The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins)-This has been in all the "must read" lists this summer. It is a mystery, had some good twists...a decent summer read.
5. Castle of Colorado (Ann Westerberg)--Pretty much a coffee table book about "Castles" in Colorado, but had lots of good history and pretty photos. We've been to a few and would like to go to more, so it was research.
6. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Carol)--Also on the summer reading list. I tried to read it last summer and didn't care enough...I think it must be one of those "you either love it or hate it" books. I guess I didn't really hate it...I just didn't really enjoy it. The Boy loved the moved though--so we've decided that the target audience is ten year old boys, so it makes sense that it isn't my favorite book ever.
7. Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good (Jan Karon)--Another that might make the "top 10 of 2015". Years ago I read "all the Mitford" books and enjoyed them--I remember when one was coming out each year that I started to get a little tired of them, and then they were gone. When my book club decided to read this one, I figured I'd have to read "a bunch" of books that I missed...only to discover there has been a gap of almost 10 years since the last book...which I did read! It was nice to return to Mitford and find out how all my "friends" were doing--a nice book, probably stands alone if you haven't read the others, but if you are a fan, read it. (Another comes out this fall...)
8. Jurassic World (David Lewman)--Ok, this was actually a "Junior Novel adaptation" of the movie--took me about an hour to read (took The Boy about two hours) and allowed us to postpone paying to go to the theatre to see the movie. It was good (for a Junior Novel)...entertaining...someday we'll see the movie.
9. The River (Beverly Lewis)--I couldn't find anything I wanted to read (not even on the pile by my bed), so I looked on Overdrive and this was available for immediate download. Very typical Beverly Lewis book, a good summer read (Formerly Amish girl returns home to face her history, runs into old boyfriend, faces choices, choices made, everyone lives happily ever after)
10. The Heir (Kiera Cass)-The long awaited fourth book in "The Selection" series--picks up 20 years after the 3rd. It was good...only disappointing thing was that there is going to be "one more"...so now I wait again...
11. Named of the Dragon (Susanna Kearsley)--Susanna Kearsley never disappoints me--this was not her best book, which is probably why my library had to borrow it from somewhere else, but it was entertaining--a little romance, a little mystery, a little supernatural suggestion--enjoyed it--worth reading.
12. Wild (Cheryl Strayed). Good book-drew me in, enjoyed reading it...but I have a problem with the fact that this inexperienced girl hopped on the trail with a giant pack and no clue of what she was doing...ugh.
13. One For the Money (Janet Evanovich)--While The Girl is at "Strength and Training", The Boy and I have been waiting for her at the school. One of our activities is walking (me) and running (him) the track. Since he wears his headphones, I was looking for something to listen to and this was available for immediate download...so I did... and if you look at the next few books on my list, you can see I enjoyed it. The first book is about Stephanie Plum, a recently laid off lingerie buyer in New Jersey, who become a bounty hunter (working for her cousin, a bail bondsman). There is a mystery, there is a little romance, lots of funny characters (like Stephanie's 80 year old grandma, who wants to start dating and get her driver's license). The following books each follow kind of the same format--they are quick and good summer reading...and there are a bunch of them (19? 20?), so until I get tired of them, I will have something to read...
14. Two for the Dough (Janet Evanovich)
15. Three to Get Deadly (Janet Evanovich)
16. Four to Score (Janet Evanovich)
17. High Five (Janet Evanovich)
Speaking of Hogwarts...the last five read like a Hogwarts required book list...all by the same author..he, he, he...
1. Aspen (Rebekah Crane)--One of the choices for my students to read this summer. It is definitely a "teen read", entertaining, with a little plot twist at the end. Like many of the other books on the summer reading list, death is one of the themes, but this one was not as dark as some of the others.
2. A Lesson Before Dying (Ernest J. Gaines)--One of my new favorites! My office mate told me I would love it and did. It is set in the 1950's in the South and is about a young teacher and his discoveries about himself as he visits with a former student who is condemned to death. Also on the summer reading list, also a serious book, but it was good...I ended it feeling hopeful, not sad like some of the others on the list.
3. American Wife (Taya Kyle)-When I told one of my students that I wasn't thrilled with American Sniper, he suggested I read this book. It was a more satisfying read, pretty much the same back story, but with Taya's twist, and then a description of her life after Chris's murder. Interesting read, worth the time.
4. The Girl on the Train (Paula Hawkins)-This has been in all the "must read" lists this summer. It is a mystery, had some good twists...a decent summer read.
5. Castle of Colorado (Ann Westerberg)--Pretty much a coffee table book about "Castles" in Colorado, but had lots of good history and pretty photos. We've been to a few and would like to go to more, so it was research.
6. Ender's Game (Orson Scott Carol)--Also on the summer reading list. I tried to read it last summer and didn't care enough...I think it must be one of those "you either love it or hate it" books. I guess I didn't really hate it...I just didn't really enjoy it. The Boy loved the moved though--so we've decided that the target audience is ten year old boys, so it makes sense that it isn't my favorite book ever.
7. Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good (Jan Karon)--Another that might make the "top 10 of 2015". Years ago I read "all the Mitford" books and enjoyed them--I remember when one was coming out each year that I started to get a little tired of them, and then they were gone. When my book club decided to read this one, I figured I'd have to read "a bunch" of books that I missed...only to discover there has been a gap of almost 10 years since the last book...which I did read! It was nice to return to Mitford and find out how all my "friends" were doing--a nice book, probably stands alone if you haven't read the others, but if you are a fan, read it. (Another comes out this fall...)
8. Jurassic World (David Lewman)--Ok, this was actually a "Junior Novel adaptation" of the movie--took me about an hour to read (took The Boy about two hours) and allowed us to postpone paying to go to the theatre to see the movie. It was good (for a Junior Novel)...entertaining...someday we'll see the movie.
9. The River (Beverly Lewis)--I couldn't find anything I wanted to read (not even on the pile by my bed), so I looked on Overdrive and this was available for immediate download. Very typical Beverly Lewis book, a good summer read (Formerly Amish girl returns home to face her history, runs into old boyfriend, faces choices, choices made, everyone lives happily ever after)
10. The Heir (Kiera Cass)-The long awaited fourth book in "The Selection" series--picks up 20 years after the 3rd. It was good...only disappointing thing was that there is going to be "one more"...so now I wait again...
11. Named of the Dragon (Susanna Kearsley)--Susanna Kearsley never disappoints me--this was not her best book, which is probably why my library had to borrow it from somewhere else, but it was entertaining--a little romance, a little mystery, a little supernatural suggestion--enjoyed it--worth reading.
12. Wild (Cheryl Strayed). Good book-drew me in, enjoyed reading it...but I have a problem with the fact that this inexperienced girl hopped on the trail with a giant pack and no clue of what she was doing...ugh.
13. One For the Money (Janet Evanovich)--While The Girl is at "Strength and Training", The Boy and I have been waiting for her at the school. One of our activities is walking (me) and running (him) the track. Since he wears his headphones, I was looking for something to listen to and this was available for immediate download...so I did... and if you look at the next few books on my list, you can see I enjoyed it. The first book is about Stephanie Plum, a recently laid off lingerie buyer in New Jersey, who become a bounty hunter (working for her cousin, a bail bondsman). There is a mystery, there is a little romance, lots of funny characters (like Stephanie's 80 year old grandma, who wants to start dating and get her driver's license). The following books each follow kind of the same format--they are quick and good summer reading...and there are a bunch of them (19? 20?), so until I get tired of them, I will have something to read...
14. Two for the Dough (Janet Evanovich)
15. Three to Get Deadly (Janet Evanovich)
16. Four to Score (Janet Evanovich)
17. High Five (Janet Evanovich)
Speaking of Hogwarts...the last five read like a Hogwarts required book list...all by the same author..he, he, he...
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Audio Books are our friends
I have fond memories of my mom reading the entire Laura Ingalls Wilder Series, as well as many other books, during our family vacations. Unfortunately, our long car trips often consist of me solo...and before the kids could read (and before we had a DVD player in the car)...it was hard to read and drive...don't worry I didn't really try it! Even when Mr. IM drives, I get car sick trying to read in a moving vehicle (on planes, too...blech)....so audio books have been my friend for a long time. Long ago I bought and borrowed cassette tapes, then CD's, and now I have several favorites burned onto my car hard drive (yes, my car has a hard drive, that is a story for another day) as well as the magic of borrowed play-aways and electronic books (through my phone!) and the car blutooth connection...The public library has been a great resource...the other day I downloaded an audio book for myself to listen to while walking....Anyway...here are some of our favorites over the years with commentary when appropriate. If the "reader" matters I'll try to note the "right" reader...sometimes that makes all the difference! (For example...I LOVE Percy Jackson...but the way the reader reads the Pegasus's voice ruined the whole audio book series for me---d'oh!!! and don't get me started on the time I picked up a Elizabeth Peters book read by someone who was NOT Barbara Rosenblat...) I'm particularly fond of the series books, but there are several stand alones that are quite wonderful. Many of these would work well as a read-aloud, too--but these are the books that we really enjoyed the reading by someone else.
1. Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen, read by Nick Podehl. I've listened to it twice in one day...
2. Harry Potter. Any of the Harry Potter, as long as they are read by Jim Dale. I have them all on CD, but I hear they are on audible now.
3. 39 Clues Series --The plot is a bit much sometimes, but the reader is pleasant to listen to (not too pleasant though, doesn't sooth me to sleep) and stimulates a lot of conversation based on thestupid exciting things the main characters do.
4. Prince Caspian read by Lynn Redgrave I love, love, love Narnia... but this is the only reader I've found that doesn't put me to sleep or annoy the heck out of me. I would be very happy if I found any of the other Narnia books read by someone who's goal was to keep me awake, rather than lull me into a coma....
5. Any of the Peter and the Starcatchers Neverland books read by Jim Dale. Here's one...There is a second series that we haven't started yet, but it has the same authors and Jim Dale reads it (so it can't be too bad!)
6. Red Jacket Girls Series --cute little mysteries, nothing too spectacular, but good enough that I'm disappointed there are only 4 or 5.
7. Henry Huggins-picked up this and Tales of a FGN (below) at the half price book store when they were on clearance. They are very short, but entertaining enough to pass an hour or so.
8. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
9. Percy Jackson series, (and the 2nd series, and the 3rd...)read by Jesse Bernstein...as long as the Pegasus doesn't talk, I enjoy them...Again, usually because they generate conversation if nothing else.
10. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. Love this book...forced the children to listen...they loved it (despite the clearly dated museum security...)
11. Other Gary Paulsen humor books--like Mud Shark, Lawn Boy, Lawn Boy Returns...Hatchet is ok, but stressful in the car...the funny ones are better
12. Treasure Hunters Series by James Patterson. I think there are three now...A little is lost in the translation, as they say, in this one--there are a lot of pictures and graphs, but we solved that by checking out the book as well...and honestly, we discovered we weren't missing much.
13. The Gregor Books by Suzanne Collins (these are actually better in many ways than Hunger Games...they are a longer series written for younger kids...the last few were a bit too violent but ok)
14. Moon Over Manifest--again, loved the book and the reader is good...nice choice in the car
15. The Westing Game--another favorite that they resisted then loved :) I'm tricky.
Slightly questionable for (some?) children...but still among my favorite car trip "reads" (and The Boy loved it last summer...)
Night Train to Memphis By Elizabeth Peters, read by Barbara Rosenblat (Really anything read by Barbara Rosenblat is lovely). There really isn't anything really objectionable...really no more than most kids books, and Rosenblat has the most lovely reading voice...but I'm prejudiced since I love anything Elizabeth Peters anyway, I suppose.
So what have you read in the car or listened to on CD/playaway/audible? We're always in the market for something new and good!!
1. Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen, read by Nick Podehl. I've listened to it twice in one day...
2. Harry Potter. Any of the Harry Potter, as long as they are read by Jim Dale. I have them all on CD, but I hear they are on audible now.
3. 39 Clues Series --The plot is a bit much sometimes, but the reader is pleasant to listen to (not too pleasant though, doesn't sooth me to sleep) and stimulates a lot of conversation based on the
4. Prince Caspian read by Lynn Redgrave I love, love, love Narnia... but this is the only reader I've found that doesn't put me to sleep or annoy the heck out of me. I would be very happy if I found any of the other Narnia books read by someone who's goal was to keep me awake, rather than lull me into a coma....
5. Any of the Peter and the Starcatchers Neverland books read by Jim Dale. Here's one...There is a second series that we haven't started yet, but it has the same authors and Jim Dale reads it (so it can't be too bad!)
6. Red Jacket Girls Series --cute little mysteries, nothing too spectacular, but good enough that I'm disappointed there are only 4 or 5.
7. Henry Huggins-picked up this and Tales of a FGN (below) at the half price book store when they were on clearance. They are very short, but entertaining enough to pass an hour or so.
8. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing
9. Percy Jackson series, (and the 2nd series, and the 3rd...)read by Jesse Bernstein...as long as the Pegasus doesn't talk, I enjoy them...Again, usually because they generate conversation if nothing else.
10. From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. Love this book...forced the children to listen...they loved it (despite the clearly dated museum security...)
11. Other Gary Paulsen humor books--like Mud Shark, Lawn Boy, Lawn Boy Returns...Hatchet is ok, but stressful in the car...the funny ones are better
12. Treasure Hunters Series by James Patterson. I think there are three now...A little is lost in the translation, as they say, in this one--there are a lot of pictures and graphs, but we solved that by checking out the book as well...and honestly, we discovered we weren't missing much.
13. The Gregor Books by Suzanne Collins (these are actually better in many ways than Hunger Games...they are a longer series written for younger kids...the last few were a bit too violent but ok)
14. Moon Over Manifest--again, loved the book and the reader is good...nice choice in the car
15. The Westing Game--another favorite that they resisted then loved :) I'm tricky.
Slightly questionable for (some?) children...but still among my favorite car trip "reads" (and The Boy loved it last summer...)
Night Train to Memphis By Elizabeth Peters, read by Barbara Rosenblat (Really anything read by Barbara Rosenblat is lovely). There really isn't anything really objectionable...really no more than most kids books, and Rosenblat has the most lovely reading voice...but I'm prejudiced since I love anything Elizabeth Peters anyway, I suppose.
So what have you read in the car or listened to on CD/playaway/audible? We're always in the market for something new and good!!
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Another book post? Summer Reading 2015
So this summer we are asking all our students to read one book from the suggested reading list. I think next summer I'm going to make my own recommended reading list for my students. I'm still working out how I'll get them to do it, especially if I don't have them in class two years in a row. So here are my totally random thoughts on the books for this summer.
Aspen by Rebekah Crane--I'm reading this now. I was hoping it would be light and fluffy, but despite not being (it centers on Aspen, the main character, who sees the ghost of a girl who died in a car accident), it is good so far.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card--sorry to all you fans, but I've picked up and set down this book approximately fifty times since 1978...but I'll give it one more time this summer..Lots of people love it...
Looking for Alaska by John Green--See my blog from Monday--liked the book, dark, but liked it
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown-loved it when I read it years ago, although it is certainly not Dan Brown's best book. A good summer read for some of my students, probably.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee --Read it in high school, couldn't get in to it, read it in my 30's loved it...what more is there to say?
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk-probably not going to read it...looks super dark and disturbing.
Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card--sorry to all you fans, but I've picked up and set down this book approximately fifty times since 1978...but I'll give it one more time this summer..Lots of people love it...
Looking for Alaska by John Green--See my blog from Monday--liked the book, dark, but liked it
The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown-loved it when I read it years ago, although it is certainly not Dan Brown's best book. A good summer read for some of my students, probably.
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee --Read it in high school, couldn't get in to it, read it in my 30's loved it...what more is there to say?
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk-probably not going to read it...looks super dark and disturbing.
The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein (fiction)-tried to read it last summer but it was sooo sad...will try again this summer
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan (fiction)-started it last summer, lost interest, will try again
The Crossing by Gary Paulsen (fiction)--Not a terrible book, but I wonder if they really meant to choose "Crossing the Wire" (Hobbs)...Paulsen is a good writer (author of one of my all time favorites, "Masters of Disaster"), but Crossing the Wire is a better book...
The Color of Water by James McBride (nonfiction)--another of my all time favorites-a good book
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (fiction)--Mixed feelings about this one--it is short and the reading level is easy, but the content is disturbing (I call it the sex-drugs and rock and roll book)--
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (fiction)no, just no...only book I've ever thrown out (when it was assigned for a women's lit class in college). Highly recommended by many, but the content is too disturbing for me...
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (nonfiction)--another favorite--read it last summer and love that man!
Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago (fiction)--In the pile to read this summer
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest P. Gaines (fiction)-My office mate says this is one of her favorites, so it was moved to the top of the "to read" list (as soon as I finish Aspen)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (fiction)-Might try it again--started last summer and never finished...
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan (fiction)-started it last summer, lost interest, will try again
The Crossing by Gary Paulsen (fiction)--Not a terrible book, but I wonder if they really meant to choose "Crossing the Wire" (Hobbs)...Paulsen is a good writer (author of one of my all time favorites, "Masters of Disaster"), but Crossing the Wire is a better book...
The Color of Water by James McBride (nonfiction)--another of my all time favorites-a good book
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (fiction)--Mixed feelings about this one--it is short and the reading level is easy, but the content is disturbing (I call it the sex-drugs and rock and roll book)--
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (fiction)no, just no...only book I've ever thrown out (when it was assigned for a women's lit class in college). Highly recommended by many, but the content is too disturbing for me...
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (nonfiction)--another favorite--read it last summer and love that man!
Death with Interruptions by Jose Saramago (fiction)--In the pile to read this summer
A Lesson Before Dying by Ernest P. Gaines (fiction)-My office mate says this is one of her favorites, so it was moved to the top of the "to read" list (as soon as I finish Aspen)
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri (fiction)-Might try it again--started last summer and never finished...
When I look at this list I think there are an awful lot of books about death and dying on the list. One of my co-workers and I briefly discussed that "issue" today and hypothesize that maybe that is because every good story starts with some kind of loss and then growth and that's what makes it good...but I would love to have some ideas of great books (classic or new) to suggest for next summer that don't seem so dark. I jokingly said, "ummm, Anne of Green Gables?"...then realized that it starts with the premise that Anne is orphaned..therefore if starts with death. Hmmm....We also wondered about if maybe we should just give kids a list of "classic" books and have them choose...but then what makes a classic? Is it books written by "dead, white men"? And the the dual issues of identification and accessibility---How do we choose books that our very diverse student body identify with and also can access, no matter what their native language or current reading level is....and how do we make a list with challenging books at every level? Egads...I'm actually happy I'm not on the committee to choose the books....
Anyway, I'd love to know what all of you are reading..especially if you've found someone who writes like Elizabeth Peters...Happy Summer!
Saturday, March 7, 2015
What I read in February
I read a lot in February--many of them were very short though and I've already discussed the Lois Lowry quartet, but here's an "official" summary:
1. The Shadowy Horses--Susanna Kearsley--might be my favorite Kearsley book yet--it is a prequel to the Firebird that I read last month. I stood in the library and re-read parts of the Firebird after reading this because I wanted to clarify "what happened" to some of the major characters.
2. Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen--I really shouldn't count this again, but we did listen to it in the car again and quoted all our favorite lines.You really do have to hear it read to get the full affect...
3. The Giver by Lois Lowry--This is the series that I had to say "My mom was right" They are still not my favorite books of all time, but they were entertaining. The Giver is my least favorite of the series, but it has to be read to understand the others.
4. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Even though it is hard to see how this one is connected to the others, this might be my favorite of the series.
5. Messenger by Lois Lowry- Continues the story from The Giver and connects it to Gathering Blue
6. Son by Lois Lowry-Pulls all the other books together and is a nice conclusion.
7. Miramont's Ghose by Elizabeth Hall--it was free on Amazon and loosely based on the story of Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs. The first 2/3 of the book was very interesting and seemed like it could be loosely historically based. Then it took one of the turns that free Amazon books sometimes do and I thought, "ummm, this seems unnecessarily graphic" and then it just kind of wandered to the ending. I did some research and the original builder was accused of abusing kids, but the storyline in the book was weird. I wouldn't recommend it (unless you only read the first half)
8. The Selection by Kiera Cass--recommended by my friend, T, who has never steered me wrong on a book. This is book one of a series about a post-apocalyptic society (set in the former US, of course) and telling the story of a Prince who designs a Bachelor-like contest to choose a bride. Written for middle schoolers/high schoolers, has some excitement (the castle is attacked, etc), but is clean and appropriate for "all audiences". I enjoyed the sequels as well (see below) and am looking forward to one more sequel (set 20 years after the last) when it comes out in May.
9. The Prince by Kiera Cass-this is one of those "novellas" that seem to be popular in "teen reads" these days. It is set before the Selection, but is from the Prince's point of view.
10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr--read this while waiting for the Cass books to arrive from my hold at the library. My book club that I rarely get to read this a few months ago. It is set in World War 2 and after--tells the parallel story of a young blind girl and a young German soldier. Nicely done, surprising storyline--enjoyed the book.
11. The Elite by Kiera Cass-Continues the story from The Selection
12. The Guard by Kiera Cass--another novella set from yet another character's point of view.
13. The One by Kiera Cass--The conclusion to the trilogy, although, as mentioned above, another novel, set twenty years after this one, is supposed to come out in May.
14. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix--another series recommended by a friend. Written for upper elementary school students, the books are quick reads. I read 2 of them in an evening. I'm waiting for book #4 to come in at the library and then I'll probably finish up the story. Another post-apocalyptic America book, this time families are only allowed two children. When a family has three kids the third has to live in hiding and so forth and so on. Fun stories, quick to read.
15. Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix--book 2
16.Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix--book 3
I'm about fifty pages into American Sniper. I'm having mixed feelings about it so far...I'll report when I'm finished! After that and the Haddix books, I'm looking for something else to read--I do have some spring break time coming up, so I'll have to find something interesting (or hope that my books on hold at the library come in!)
1. The Shadowy Horses--Susanna Kearsley--might be my favorite Kearsley book yet--it is a prequel to the Firebird that I read last month. I stood in the library and re-read parts of the Firebird after reading this because I wanted to clarify "what happened" to some of the major characters.
2. Masters of Disaster by Gary Paulsen--I really shouldn't count this again, but we did listen to it in the car again and quoted all our favorite lines.You really do have to hear it read to get the full affect...
3. The Giver by Lois Lowry--This is the series that I had to say "My mom was right" They are still not my favorite books of all time, but they were entertaining. The Giver is my least favorite of the series, but it has to be read to understand the others.
4. Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Even though it is hard to see how this one is connected to the others, this might be my favorite of the series.
5. Messenger by Lois Lowry- Continues the story from The Giver and connects it to Gathering Blue
6. Son by Lois Lowry-Pulls all the other books together and is a nice conclusion.
7. Miramont's Ghose by Elizabeth Hall--it was free on Amazon and loosely based on the story of Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs. The first 2/3 of the book was very interesting and seemed like it could be loosely historically based. Then it took one of the turns that free Amazon books sometimes do and I thought, "ummm, this seems unnecessarily graphic" and then it just kind of wandered to the ending. I did some research and the original builder was accused of abusing kids, but the storyline in the book was weird. I wouldn't recommend it (unless you only read the first half)
8. The Selection by Kiera Cass--recommended by my friend, T, who has never steered me wrong on a book. This is book one of a series about a post-apocalyptic society (set in the former US, of course) and telling the story of a Prince who designs a Bachelor-like contest to choose a bride. Written for middle schoolers/high schoolers, has some excitement (the castle is attacked, etc), but is clean and appropriate for "all audiences". I enjoyed the sequels as well (see below) and am looking forward to one more sequel (set 20 years after the last) when it comes out in May.
9. The Prince by Kiera Cass-this is one of those "novellas" that seem to be popular in "teen reads" these days. It is set before the Selection, but is from the Prince's point of view.
10. All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr--read this while waiting for the Cass books to arrive from my hold at the library. My book club that I rarely get to read this a few months ago. It is set in World War 2 and after--tells the parallel story of a young blind girl and a young German soldier. Nicely done, surprising storyline--enjoyed the book.
11. The Elite by Kiera Cass-Continues the story from The Selection
12. The Guard by Kiera Cass--another novella set from yet another character's point of view.
13. The One by Kiera Cass--The conclusion to the trilogy, although, as mentioned above, another novel, set twenty years after this one, is supposed to come out in May.
14. Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix--another series recommended by a friend. Written for upper elementary school students, the books are quick reads. I read 2 of them in an evening. I'm waiting for book #4 to come in at the library and then I'll probably finish up the story. Another post-apocalyptic America book, this time families are only allowed two children. When a family has three kids the third has to live in hiding and so forth and so on. Fun stories, quick to read.
15. Among the Impostors by Margaret Peterson Haddix--book 2
16.Among the Betrayed by Margaret Peterson Haddix--book 3
I'm about fifty pages into American Sniper. I'm having mixed feelings about it so far...I'll report when I'm finished! After that and the Haddix books, I'm looking for something else to read--I do have some spring break time coming up, so I'll have to find something interesting (or hope that my books on hold at the library come in!)
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