tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40666840612638637582024-02-07T01:33:27.335-08:00Book Bantermalissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-91226574780495310712011-06-13T09:42:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:55:42.856-07:00You Know When the Men Are Gone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pNvTlisvAWrJ74fWM1R0TVMqZqXRynxaQ0ptVK8m33GSPStfRaWbb6S_lv2vP7-5iuQZhoQWEoD1WDaALFi1VrEnL_YlwY7SxG5vJjdjcFkN9Vlet6D5edUm5qjUhw6xyJcGZ3wDBhoW/s1600/men.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617746080538819618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pNvTlisvAWrJ74fWM1R0TVMqZqXRynxaQ0ptVK8m33GSPStfRaWbb6S_lv2vP7-5iuQZhoQWEoD1WDaALFi1VrEnL_YlwY7SxG5vJjdjcFkN9Vlet6D5edUm5qjUhw6xyJcGZ3wDBhoW/s200/men.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>As soon as I finished this collection of short stories by <a href="http://www.siobhanfallon.com/">Siobhan Fallon</a> I wrote down a few possible themes that run throughout- obligation, fear, silence, order, family. In the middle of reading this wonderful book I wrote down- "so much left unsaid." Soldiers don't speak of the fear they experience while out on a mission, wives don't mention the suspicions they have that their soldier isn't faithful, families don't share the separate hardships they endured while the other was away. It seems very unhealthy but understood.</div><br /><div>Fallon pulls the curtains back and let's all of us look closely at military families- how the wives function and support each other while their husbands are deployed, what our soldiers experience as they fulfill their commitment, how difficult it is for everyone when families are reunited. </div><br /><div>This is a timely book that would help everyone have a deeper appreciation for everyone involved in protecting our country.</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-55587515858572123632011-06-13T09:19:00.000-07:002011-06-13T09:36:53.136-07:00Between Shades of Gray<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzWw1V8tIe-DWjDfriUFtsFehSW6WEhDLYpfpdQvnOnTQyIOAJrlMrqrrjo0a1l-LD2_d6G6E3FOp-eyplnlnY9KmZIb7Paz54xbOzqq6DXZ9PpF67NSnN8VzReEofQu85jC1Dz3gzIyR/s1600/Between-Shades-Gray_221.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 138px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5617740383124293026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAzWw1V8tIe-DWjDfriUFtsFehSW6WEhDLYpfpdQvnOnTQyIOAJrlMrqrrjo0a1l-LD2_d6G6E3FOp-eyplnlnY9KmZIb7Paz54xbOzqq6DXZ9PpF67NSnN8VzReEofQu85jC1Dz3gzIyR/s200/Between-Shades-Gray_221.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">"Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?"</div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left">Near the end of Between Shades of Gray this is the question that is asked. It hits you in the gut and stays with you. When I finished this book and took another trip to the public library I wasn't ready to turn it in. </div><br /><div align="left"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Ruta</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sepetys</span> has written a beautiful account of Lithuanian families being torn apart and hidden away in Siberia so that the Soviets could take over their country. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sepetys</span> herself is the daughter of Lithuanian refugees who escaped to Germany. </div><br /><div align="left">This could have easily been the same story that we have all read- families rounded up, put on trains, carried away from everything they know, mistreated, etc. It is that story but the writing is so well done that it is a whole new story. The characters that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Sepetys</span> brings to life on the page were so real. Each person was an important to piece to the whole story and are still in my thoughts. </div><br /><div align="left">Her writing style was well accomplished- a perfect mix of sentence length, and boy does she know how to bring a chapter to a close. I knew that I was very connected to the characters and just knew that I was going to cry as some of them inevitably died. But that wasn't what caught my heart off guard. (Possible spoiler) The scene that was so unexpected and touching was knowing that clean clothes were saved (and not worn as layers in the freezing temps) through their whole ordeal so that they could be worn when they returned to their homes. It was a beautiful image of hope.</div><br /><div align="left">I learned about a chapter in history that I wasn't aware of. This story would be enjoyed by adults and young adults.</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-16461996004652753202011-02-26T16:34:00.000-08:002011-02-26T17:12:51.675-08:00The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl0fv1IQhg8FuKnzoAHSIIrfwvdvZYBHXn0XuplMGFLZqssgL1N1hoOJ8lt8NhlH_aila6xmhbo1bwjeAJlS8Q4sxUHbeLcfH7ndcUJOqxsAMm8W9HME_rIRdE23MK9GnXpnZI-2GdscL/s1600/middle.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 130px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578162162418027954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl0fv1IQhg8FuKnzoAHSIIrfwvdvZYBHXn0XuplMGFLZqssgL1N1hoOJ8lt8NhlH_aila6xmhbo1bwjeAJlS8Q4sxUHbeLcfH7ndcUJOqxsAMm8W9HME_rIRdE23MK9GnXpnZI-2GdscL/s200/middle.jpg" /></a>When I downloaded this book to my Kindle Tuesday night I was pretty sure it was a memoir about cancer. I didn't remember that it was about breast cancer or I probably wouldn't have begun reading it. On Tuesday I had my first mammogram and ultrasound and was able to put to rest the fears I had been carrying around for over a month after finding a lump in my breast. The nurse sounded almost certain that what she saw on the screen is a cyst. So, as I read The Middle Place I wavered between feeling like I needed more distance between my experience and reading about the author's and feeling like I had just bought some cheap therapy.<br /><br />The Middle Place is a memoir about cancer, growing up, raising children, confronting life's trials. The title refers to that time in life when you still depend on your parents but you have people depending on you also. Corrigan alternates between short episodes from her younger years and a chronicle of her and her father's cancer treatment. She battled breast cancer at the same time her father was battling bladder cancer. Corrigan has a very close relationship with her father and many of her stories showcase his uniqueness and what draws people to him. <br /><br />The author is a flawed person, just like the rest of us, and I think that is why I like the book so much (and other memoirs). She loses her temper with her children, starts unnecessary arguments with her husband, and seems to want to give the advice that she needs to hear to others in her life. Sound familiar to anyone?!?<br /><br />The only disappointment I had was the lack of a lesson/realization by the author. I find it hard to believe that you and your father fight cancer at the same time and you don't come out different on the other side. She doesn't seem very reflective about the experience. There might be a hint of a lesson learned in one of my favorite quotes from the book: "Someday, some later day, I'll find out what it is to be an adult- to bury someone essential, someone you don't think you can live without, someone attached in so many place you almost fall in after them." Beautiful words...<br /><br />Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-28157026476502620022011-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:002011-01-01T10:17:45.192-08:00Best of 2010 and Looking Forward<div><div><div><p align="left">So it's time to look back at what I read this past year and name my faves. I had a goal of reading 50 books this year and I came really close. The holiday madness seemed to get in the way. I finished book 48 (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Queen-Palmyra-Novel-P-S/dp/0061840327/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293903564&sr=8-1">The Queen of Palmyra</a>) as our neighbors fired off annoying fireworks last night! I will make the goal this year to read 50. I am also a writer and am working on a YA novel and will spen most of my time this coming year reading other YA novels similar to what I want to write. I will also read aduly fiction also.</p><div><div><div></div><div>TOP TEN OF 2010:</div><div><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mudbound-Hillary-Jordan/dp/1565126777/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293904561&sr=8-1">Mudbound</a> by Jordan (probably my go to recommendation for friends. I actually read this book twice this year!)</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Unwashed-Irene-Zabytko/dp/1565122461/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293904634&sr=1-1">The Sky Unwashed</a> by Zabytko</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Broken-Pieces-Ann-Burg/dp/0545080924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293904678&sr=1-1">All the Broken Pieces </a>by Burg</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Carry-Me-Home-Sandra-Kring/dp/0385338139/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293904724&sr=8-1">Carry Me Home</a> by Kring</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Other-Wes-Moore-Fates-Hardcover/dp/B003JMXYO0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293904766&sr=1-2">The Other Wes Moore</a> by Moore</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Help-Kathryn-Stockett/dp/0399155341/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293904835&sr=1-1">The Help</a> by Stockett (This was my top fave last year. I read it again this year for a book club)</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chains-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/1416905863/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293904873&sr=1-1">Chains</a> by Anderson</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Life-Henrietta-Lacks/dp/1400052173/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293904915&sr=1-1">The Immortal Like of Henrietta Lacks</a> by Skloot</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Novel-Todd-Johnson/dp/0061579513/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293904951&sr=1-1">The Sweet By and By</a> by Johnson</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Crooked-Letter-Letter-Tom-Franklin/dp/0230753051/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293904987&sr=1-1">Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter</a> by Franklin</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>LOOKING FORWARD TO READING:</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Unbroken-World-Survival-Resilience-Redemption/dp/1400064163/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293905120&sr=1-1">Unbroken</a> by Hillenbrand</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/State-Wonder-Ann-Patchett/dp/0062049801/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293905214&sr=1-1">State of Wonder</a> by Patchett (I haven't read a thing about this book but love her other work!)</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Have-Not-Frances-Lefkowitz/dp/1596923547/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293905344&sr=1-1">To Have Not</a> by Lefkowitz (Love the cover of this book!)</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Misrule-Jaimy-Gordon/dp/0929701836/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293905627&sr=1-1">Lord of Misrule</a> by Gordon</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Half-Life-Darin-Strauss/dp/1934781703/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293905688&sr=1-1">Half a Life</a> by Strauss</div><div> </div><div><br />What will you be reading in 2011? Happy Reading!</div><div> </div><div> <br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-89732757825918141232010-12-24T15:23:00.000-08:002010-12-24T16:00:06.991-08:00The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX36mLp8HHuH4F4oy5JbrKgb4gJahJhHZJCefa-FSXgNXSF2PUWc5tNtiLRKxL1v_F9hTeSDLL4oD0uTnrQMlz9QThWiy9l2hR4HPX37A7X4Hs6GvOxrz1mnrxutTlXI1wZr9wh-DVCFW6/s1600/hela.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 131px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554393860601742690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX36mLp8HHuH4F4oy5JbrKgb4gJahJhHZJCefa-FSXgNXSF2PUWc5tNtiLRKxL1v_F9hTeSDLL4oD0uTnrQMlz9QThWiy9l2hR4HPX37A7X4Hs6GvOxrz1mnrxutTlXI1wZr9wh-DVCFW6/s200/hela.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center">The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot is one of the most talked about non-fiction books of the year. It is a good mixture of narrative about Henrietta and her family and textbook knowledge about cells, research and scientists.</div><br /><div align="center">In the early 1950s, when African Americans had few rights and were segregated in hospital wards and many other public places, a young woman named Henrietta Lacks was diagnosed and dying from what doctors eventually diagnosed as cervical cancer. While doctors were operating on her tumor they took a sample of the cancer cells without her consent. Her husband did consent to an autopsy after being told that the information gained could assist his family in medical issues in the future. Doctors had spent years trying to grow cells in test tubes and had before then been unsuccessful. With Henrietta's cells, named HeLa cells, they found cells that multiplied constantly. These cells changed the ways doctors researched everything- cancer, polio, leukemia, etc. The only practice in question is that Henrietta's family was never informed of the discovery or the fact that money was being made from HeLa cells. </div><br /><div align="center">The book follows Henrietta's family as they learn about the cells and struggle to learn about the mother that most of her children were too young to remember when she died. The family deals with a lot of anger about being mislead and kept in the dark. One troubling fact is that their mother's cells helped so many advances in medicine be possible while most of Henrietta's family lived without medical insurance.</div><br /><div align="center">In the afterword Skloot suggests that the two main issues at hand are consent and money. Should doctors have to get patient consent before taking and using cells and tissue for research? and if money is made from the cells, tissue or research should the original "owner" of the tissue get compensated? Throughout the book I thought of how I feel about these two issues. I think that yes, patient consent should be sought before doctors take and use them. However, I would hate that new discoveries, etc could be stalled because some patients don't consent to their tissue and cells being used. I'm pretty sure if asked I would give consent but I would like the chance to say yes or no. It would be very hard to track exactly how much profict was gained from one person's tissue to compensate them. Maybe if compensation is considered patients are just compensated one time for their contribution.</div><br /><div align="center">It's an interesting topic and a very interesting book. I enjoyed the book, especially the story of Henrietta and her family. I thought the book got a little bogged down in the technical information even though it was necessary to understand the book. What are your thoughts? Have you read the book? Want to read it? How do you feel about the issues at hand?</div><br /><div align="center">Happy Reading!</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-14492631194917807182010-12-05T16:26:00.000-08:002010-12-05T16:45:46.586-08:00Mudbound by Hillary Jordan<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9_GgdlJOm9zpzBDNjMSKEOE4L6Q4NBhapoHzU4VfxnCfvd31zu8QDOhXthYvfe_a6w7jcdv5QitLHHXwZw580NnoayiHTxCcjEKQXa0qeL1xe84eOCkI2NyzJd7puCRbI5G_pYggSJdv/s1600/mudbound.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547359680890255538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9_GgdlJOm9zpzBDNjMSKEOE4L6Q4NBhapoHzU4VfxnCfvd31zu8QDOhXthYvfe_a6w7jcdv5QitLHHXwZw580NnoayiHTxCcjEKQXa0qeL1xe84eOCkI2NyzJd7puCRbI5G_pYggSJdv/s320/mudbound.jpg" /></a> "There is no room for pity on a farm."</div><br /><br /><div>This is the second time I have read Mudbound in the past year (once because it sounded like a great book and twice because my book club is going to discuss it next weekend). I would read it again and plan to recommend it to everyone I know. What a read! Hillary Jordan is a very skilled writer and I look forward to more from her.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The title comes from the name given to the farm the McAllan family lives on. Henry McAllan moves his family to the farm he has always dreamed of with the promise that they will live a more civilized life in town. This idea falls through and the family ends up living in a run-down house on the always muddy farm. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div>The story is told from the point of view of all of the players in this story- Laura, Henry, Jamie (Henry's brother who has returned from WWII), Florence (the sharecropper's wife who live son the land and helps Laura with daily life), Hap (Florence's husband), Ronsel (the sharecropper's son who has also returned from the war). Another player in this story, Pappy (the matriarch) doesn't help tell the story but is a large part of it.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>In the time that the book takes place race relations were still strained. However, the sharecroppers and the McAllan family get along just fine. When both sons return from the war and begin to find solace in their shared experiences people begin to talk and tensions rise to a climax that left me tense as you read on to the outcome.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Jordan is skilled at ending chapters with hints of what's to come and sprinkles in details that catch your attention and make you start piecing the story together. Every character in the story was guilty of one thing or another but also needed and wanted something true in their hearts. I think that is what made all of them so believable.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div>Have you read Mudbound? What did you think? Will you be adding it to your to-read list? Happy Reading!</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-63275766495668817832010-07-13T15:48:00.000-07:002010-07-13T16:08:48.029-07:00Carry Me Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMg0HHfw_9FB3UtgFS_Z0-39a__aC2yGYEPkDz2TNNaQNMKuNfIfZUWTt1w2mFmtdzYpD4Knjp_0W67ncm5uo16p5VZbl1j4ExPP_d_Zm30HCHEyTU1YEAVFvk-WW51NGxalx5UR9dV_R/s1600/carry.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 112px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 168px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5493527441440301218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMg0HHfw_9FB3UtgFS_Z0-39a__aC2yGYEPkDz2TNNaQNMKuNfIfZUWTt1w2mFmtdzYpD4Knjp_0W67ncm5uo16p5VZbl1j4ExPP_d_Zm30HCHEyTU1YEAVFvk-WW51NGxalx5UR9dV_R/s320/carry.jpg" /></a> My book club recently read and discussed Carry Me Home by Sandra Kring. A few years ago we read The Book of Bright Ideas by Sandra so we were sure we would enjoy Carry Me Home also. I really enjoyed the book. The narrator, Earwig, is a simpleton whose older brother goes off to war during WWII. Kring did a great job not over doing the way Earwig misuses words or misunderstands things. He was quite funny and crude! This story is a glimpse into a small town whose sons went off to war. Everyone holds everyone else up and helps them through the long days of absence. Our group decided that the title was exemplified in each person helping another in need and "carrying" them. A quote from the book:<br /><br /><div align="center"> "You just walk through your days, Floyd," Jimmy says, and he's got teary eyes too. "And when you feel like you're going to fall on your ass again, you just grab tight to the first person that's nearby and you hold on until you steady yourself enough to take another step."</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">I felt Kring did a great job inserting historical facts without weighing down the story. I learned many new facts about the war and the treatment of soldiers when they came back. If you haven't read Sandra Kring yet, what are you waiting for?</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Next on our book club list is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweetness-Bottom-Pie-Flavia-Mystery/dp/0385343493/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279062490&sr=8-1">The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Bradley</a>.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Happy Reading!</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-29588026569682495312010-07-08T13:03:00.000-07:002010-07-08T13:45:33.791-07:00Where Have I Been?<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6NC_cDub14w8nX7zsSGKVbiFn7v17WwQct94huFGbE453TjtTtaIQGvbAlcr-kEgnsIfflNXSLC75e90PFMMqlfQ6rYeH5Oyx5OY1C5Scypp_f9uaV9NU2nkTSKerEayaLVMRIKLWWCkX/s1600/2010_07_08_0026.JPG"></a><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI-VvXcUZ0V7Fpzy_6v3HVKLFS_d8BSyR80azrDdxLOd-oleFDQ1SxC7O5cNLiilSDOF7rH1X-XyJQXvcgqLFUuJDoNrczLETN-8ePACOi3zoxtcHfPNH1yyj2yYWf2Qywb4HQ28_TK-O/s1600/summer.jpg"></a></div><div align="left">WOW! I can't believe it has been so long since I have blogged about my reading. Don't really have a good excuse. I did read 11 books between now and then- some of the great, some not so much! </div><div align="left"><br /></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 91px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491631957644344514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFI-VvXcUZ0V7Fpzy_6v3HVKLFS_d8BSyR80azrDdxLOd-oleFDQ1SxC7O5cNLiilSDOF7rH1X-XyJQXvcgqLFUuJDoNrczLETN-8ePACOi3zoxtcHfPNH1yyj2yYWf2Qywb4HQ28_TK-O/s320/summer.jpg" /> <div></div><div>I just finished reading One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia. I heard about it through a blog that introduces titles that could be possible Newbery Medal winners. I completely disagree about this book. I didn't care for it at all. Three sisters travel across the country to stay with the mother that abandoned them. She is involved with The Black Panthers. Much of the story deals with The Black Panthers and events around that time period. I thought it was very vague and scattered. In the end I didn't think there was enough that happened in the book or enough change in the characters.</div><div></div><br /><div>Here are links to the other books I have read since my absence with stars next to my faves:</div><div></div><br /><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Gone-Memoirs-Soldier/dp/0374531269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620523&sr=1-1">A Long Way Gone</a> </div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Umbrella-Summer-Lisa-Graff/dp/0061431877/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620566&sr=1-1">Umbrella Summer</a> **</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leanin-Dog-K-Nuzum/dp/0061139343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620598&sr=1-1">The Leanin' Dog</a> **</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Worlds-Afire-Paul-B-Janeczko/dp/076363400X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620638&sr=1-1">Worlds Afire</a> **</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Outcasts-United-American-Refugee-Difference/dp/0385522045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620668&sr=1-1">Outcasts United</a> **</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Circus-Fire-Story-American-Tragedy/dp/0385496850/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620692&sr=1-1">The Circus Fire</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reliable-Wife-Robert-Goolrick/dp/1565129776/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620720&sr=1-1">A Reliable Wife</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Leaving-Gees-Bend-Irene-Latham/dp/B00381B7C8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620750&sr=1-1-spell">Leaving Gee's Bend</a></div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scent-Rain-Lightning-Novel/dp/0345471016/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620775&sr=1-1">The Scent of Rain and Lightning</a> **</div><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Novel-Todd-Johnson/dp/0061579513/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278620807&sr=1-1">The Sweet By and By</a> **</div><br /><div></div><div>Now for what is on the to read list:</div><p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491636514726006466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhr0voZsLBWVmnegpeKLcot3Qiq79PrKZj7RdhtGLXmW3-G0EpzXXiUTRXNVbeWkf4EFhrVJQXjG2z6f65CoQOl-1GPQ50SQWkRyuGlVm2zhMBvdLdumtv6GuxFxb56Aiql_eLYYotLb2y/s320/2010_07_08_0026.JPG" /></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tinkers-Paul-Harding/dp/193413712X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621569&sr=1-1">Tinkers by Paul Hardin</a>g</p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Journey-Through-Ann-Hood/dp/039333659X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621604&sr=1-1">Comfort by Ann Hood</a></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-My-Mind-Sharon-Draper/dp/141697170X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621636&sr=1-1">Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper</a></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bonobo-Handshake-Memoir-Adventure-Congo/dp/1592405460/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621667&sr=1-1">Bonobo Handshake by Vanessa Woods</a></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Other-Wes-Moore-Name-Fates/dp/0385528191/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621694&sr=1-1">The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore</a></p><p align="left"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wench-Novel-Dolen-Perkins-Valdez/dp/006170654X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278621725&sr=1-1">Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez</a></p><p align="left">I'm not sure which one to read first. I'm leaning towards Bonobo Handshake or The Other Wes Moore. They both sounds fascinating. Since it won't stop raining here in Texas maybe I'll get all of them read soon. I promise not to be gone too long this time!</p><p align="left">What are you reading?</p><p align="left">Happy Reading</p><p align="center"><br /></p><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-56150542856676135272010-04-03T11:46:00.000-07:002010-04-03T12:35:34.684-07:00Brave and Broken<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLaCZBzCnANzzpU7DHuoMy_3YiYw98w04Gcf42UMRFXCosD8tKeRq7Vp5ZYFkLyP8LHxFFGuGn7ka8oOJ34tzkSYQu0OibeYwyUbXPHgreI-KpUdn1atQFG7UhNxZtJ6-wLW5XDCxTUQ7/s1600/broken.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455986144355990242" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLaCZBzCnANzzpU7DHuoMy_3YiYw98w04Gcf42UMRFXCosD8tKeRq7Vp5ZYFkLyP8LHxFFGuGn7ka8oOJ34tzkSYQu0OibeYwyUbXPHgreI-KpUdn1atQFG7UhNxZtJ6-wLW5XDCxTUQ7/s320/broken.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiourLkBrNrMoHRF15an8dbTNL-4VFI58SXI7rESJZcamSCwwXe-imyMRDbPo-UEqbMFTF0KaE1JoiPU7E0431f-Rp2ONU6L6b4uIT_UF70mI-VuVnWilXdcfzSevD1tNfMybIcZHv1fGXW/s1600/brave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455986032627622610" style="WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiourLkBrNrMoHRF15an8dbTNL-4VFI58SXI7rESJZcamSCwwXe-imyMRDbPo-UEqbMFTF0KaE1JoiPU7E0431f-Rp2ONU6L6b4uIT_UF70mI-VuVnWilXdcfzSevD1tNfMybIcZHv1fGXW/s320/brave.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>This holiday weekend has afforded me the chance to get a jump start on my poetry reading.<br /><div align="left">I have finished both <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Home-Brave-Katherine-Applegate/dp/0312535635/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270320963&sr=8-1">Home of the Brave</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Broken-Pieces-Ann-Burg/dp/0545080924/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270320990&sr=1-1">All the Broken Pieces</a>. </div><div align="left">They were both beautiful and very well written. </div><div align="left">I want to talk about both first and then speak to each individually.</div><div align="left">Both stories weave together the stories or people who on the surface seem very different but the more you look, the more similar their circumstances. </div><div align="left">In both stories the narrators are young boys who have come to America to escape war- from Vietnam and Sudan. </div><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455989452930963122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCvqz_8Z-AVmogal0z36_buQ9x_ZzfT3-3N5y1_2HqOP8rCsw7-YX6-HKTw5Sgh1Oib1cGu-vsaes_xSbYZAtDp0u3iqex1YImaecbXR1xKkhyu9F1b453KW1a6P5xacobtc3wjI1HxmX/s320/brave.jpg" border="0" /> Kek is the narrator of Home of the Brave. Most of his family was killed in the violence familiar to Sudan. </div><div align="left">He is brought to live with his extended family in Minneapolis.</div><div align="left">The author does a wonderful job of allowing the reader to see the world through the eyes of Kek, who is experiencing so much for the first time- snow, airplanes, escalators.</div><div align="left">Kek befriends Hannah, a foster child who lives in his apartment building</div><div align="left">and an older lady who is also in transition.</div><div align="left">I don't want to give too much away.</div><div align="left">I loved the poeticness (might have invented a word there but you know what I mean!). </div><div align="left">The words paint a lovely picture even though the story is at times bleak.</div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The night Ganwar lost his hand</div><div align="left">was the night I lost</div><div align="left">my father and brother</div><div align="left">the night of men in the sky with guns</div><div align="left">the night the earth opened up like a black pit</div><div align="left">and swallowed my old life whole.</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.sandhyanankani.com/wordpress/?p=96">Here</a> is an interview with the author, Katherine Applegate.</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455991068220375282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvRm7q9kFqjL_fOfo0QwZx7GPb_ttCkAiejonxtq03TkzwpaGMXWjtzzJQFMGlHxlnDkRffzzQ6OkPYndEeKKpD9XKV162Y3c5zQEQcD7Bdvv2S5IVsljJ_IZH_4mhvRuxOq2PytWOzFI/s320/broken.jpg" border="0" />I must confess that I started reading the second half of All the Broken Pieces this morning thinking that it wasn't as strong of a story as Home of the Brave.<br />Well, I cried through the last 20 pages and changed me mind!<br />I do think that Home of the Brave is more poetic but the story of Matt in All the Broken Pieces really got me.<br />Matt was airlifted out of Vietnam and adopted by a family.<br />The story takes place a couple years after the Vietnam war and tensions are still high.<br />The story follows Matt as he tries out for the baseball team and learns to play the piano.<br />I know that doesn't sound like much but he encounters people who are also broken and they are each able to help one another.<br />I think in some ways we are all broken and if we looked deep enough we would find similarities and be able to help each other.<br />The connection to the cover photograph of a torn baseball is beautiful in this story.<br /><br />Both books have led me to further reading: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Things-They-Carried-Tim-OBrien/dp/054739117X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270322614&sr=8-1">The Things They Carried</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/July-Tim-OBrien/dp/0142003387/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270322644&sr=1-9">July, July</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Gone-Memoirs-Soldier/dp/0374531269/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1270322681&sr=1-1">A Long Way Gone</a>.<br /><br />Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-70648262822626495002010-04-02T08:50:00.000-07:002010-04-03T12:36:11.573-07:00Poetry Pile<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_1uUxOgj5_uZi7IDi2BWU8XjNc5bWQJCwRstAceqRsM5xKaVao_A2Dtg4b7lUObIYOO-sr-zbJvzBGkcEUL9ejFW1TuT5-TF3VzMecVNh2JF9Bw5iNs_D9SRXO5847B1A2SeAbPtiwSC/s1600/2010_04_02_0005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455569610584718002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid_1uUxOgj5_uZi7IDi2BWU8XjNc5bWQJCwRstAceqRsM5xKaVao_A2Dtg4b7lUObIYOO-sr-zbJvzBGkcEUL9ejFW1TuT5-TF3VzMecVNh2JF9Bw5iNs_D9SRXO5847B1A2SeAbPtiwSC/s320/2010_04_02_0005.JPG" border="0" /></a> April is National Poetry Month and I {heart} poetry. So why not a month of poetry reading? I teach at an elementary school so most of the books in my pile could be used with elementary students but they can also be enjoyed by adults. Poetry is amazing to me- with so few words you can say so much. It's definitely an art. I will be reading some novels in verse and some poetry collections.<br /><br />Novels in Verse:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrmzqS_A_QkliWRHBqEXXRBP1WRpgGI6H2xNwGdxMQOOc3yKomVC2QShwEXZujo7KfdwoefMVDlPKpQmRHI_fOXQJyeCOpELQ33Ug-uCJ6MVJjAWUJQzG0L5VF4VU1TnrbxzDxmkO1Vj9/s1600/aleutian.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572031042975922" style="WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrmzqS_A_QkliWRHBqEXXRBP1WRpgGI6H2xNwGdxMQOOc3yKomVC2QShwEXZujo7KfdwoefMVDlPKpQmRHI_fOXQJyeCOpELQ33Ug-uCJ6MVJjAWUJQzG0L5VF4VU1TnrbxzDxmkO1Vj9/s320/aleutian.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXGh9k1daj2jBK2lanvZLbZnB3RkoQqY02Pi_fdmu4oLMDWGouIfOZGc9Rw1tfNj9calZbrIEH04LY0ydsTtyMFGigvnHGBCHLQaCKzEd8V6H1VkZKEZ8rOOwYP1cO48OU4L6KGt-vVbj/s1600/billie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572035730274786" style="WIDTH: 83px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXGh9k1daj2jBK2lanvZLbZnB3RkoQqY02Pi_fdmu4oLMDWGouIfOZGc9Rw1tfNj9calZbrIEH04LY0ydsTtyMFGigvnHGBCHLQaCKzEd8V6H1VkZKEZ8rOOwYP1cO48OU4L6KGt-vVbj/s320/billie.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVDzpH1NbTIjjuEA-xbBCg5cIC-TOjJderAG5xmtbMQcWo-bUW0qQbuyjJHD9dnqCfvmVKlm04M81Y4CEBXeI3AAYQ9rKcsg6u-T_OAstGozUVs6JmTk0m1P2q0YlCm7EonYDjLyM4lBB/s1600/brave.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572045273854546" style="WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVDzpH1NbTIjjuEA-xbBCg5cIC-TOjJderAG5xmtbMQcWo-bUW0qQbuyjJHD9dnqCfvmVKlm04M81Y4CEBXeI3AAYQ9rKcsg6u-T_OAstGozUVs6JmTk0m1P2q0YlCm7EonYDjLyM4lBB/s320/brave.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkb_SaE3IFqyCp5s8ae9WELfDuhB7dyHyD3Ko-tOiXrRKqVB1Fozj9ikkUfQnBbHMiYllwFBu0T7JENaXpEBX50uGcnWKMd1qqhJSV2Ex1vbXJu6LLlFH8Y2zD99y3tGTqdB7EDVIWGV2/s1600/broken.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572049224681218" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 123px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkb_SaE3IFqyCp5s8ae9WELfDuhB7dyHyD3Ko-tOiXrRKqVB1Fozj9ikkUfQnBbHMiYllwFBu0T7JENaXpEBX50uGcnWKMd1qqhJSV2Ex1vbXJu6LLlFH8Y2zD99y3tGTqdB7EDVIWGV2/s320/broken.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fn7NGAc_tF5OMQ9-_X7Fh9RRc1i3P8sVnDcc3NUYEc2PzlujtMvSc3xEL9bmYBtMF67885G-wp1bTW8EgJ5xbNM7lgx-rzbLKrnFiXv3gVQ04HE4Iw6WWWDSd7sPrR8O-x0uNLo3ngJZ/s1600/brushing.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572051833782978" style="WIDTH: 63px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Fn7NGAc_tF5OMQ9-_X7Fh9RRc1i3P8sVnDcc3NUYEc2PzlujtMvSc3xEL9bmYBtMF67885G-wp1bTW8EgJ5xbNM7lgx-rzbLKrnFiXv3gVQ04HE4Iw6WWWDSd7sPrR8O-x0uNLo3ngJZ/s320/brushing.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAaN7YFNKtjtSWmsdbMUDvyLOpKg9VwEY1hlGbqpK90HzYQb8bV7TYRG0DKEmgsEnbJtBdKR9pKUg_BAnep6TK4Ar0wFwJjJFN31HEJwwrHkYuHsfiCvaD6MG2DJR9xmnpmOnPVpGWJg3/s1600/loco.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572707087176674" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJAaN7YFNKtjtSWmsdbMUDvyLOpKg9VwEY1hlGbqpK90HzYQb8bV7TYRG0DKEmgsEnbJtBdKR9pKUg_BAnep6TK4Ar0wFwJjJFN31HEJwwrHkYuHsfiCvaD6MG2DJR9xmnpmOnPVpGWJg3/s320/loco.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aCEkCowr5-AeKI468rRXAaz1cwZYUdRlmnhMa__kXiyddYh0OZbKxmW8uf9qE6mtSy-NVXRV20hmhy2AsO-NRYJwyFZqIU5lIzGwSvXY8VPnLsQ4JUXSE6Kk1LZcpAGu-fbNY3CjaWSI/s1600/tofu.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572713590248210" style="WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 126px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aCEkCowr5-AeKI468rRXAaz1cwZYUdRlmnhMa__kXiyddYh0OZbKxmW8uf9qE6mtSy-NVXRV20hmhy2AsO-NRYJwyFZqIU5lIzGwSvXY8VPnLsQ4JUXSE6Kk1LZcpAGu-fbNY3CjaWSI/s320/tofu.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtq26M8MjjaT0OwzcEDCbwIPeWed-41IitlpiEI83mPYsUpROlM2LhVLrLNwl3mWQaNlLQCWcxoLRr2QogKcT7oFlzKFwrVW9EHQnvbpfsihyphenhyphenf1kjalb8RXVrx_yoPpeWUa9kqM8Cq-Op/s1600/steps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455572707710877298" style="WIDTH: 76px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtq26M8MjjaT0OwzcEDCbwIPeWed-41IitlpiEI83mPYsUpROlM2LhVLrLNwl3mWQaNlLQCWcxoLRr2QogKcT7oFlzKFwrVW9EHQnvbpfsihyphenhyphenf1kjalb8RXVrx_yoPpeWUa9kqM8Cq-Op/s320/steps.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />Poetry Collections:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9hd0MRY2gOFpW9RkF58dzfUzzijm3D1Mt1JMdxZAqssazgg9oHCRdZL4cKxxhMZfWBj8vootf0xO5YiCZPrBCmGWJXnFh9uN3nNDLps2SuovT3RBSgkSFgUub9PXbnq9D3foAnr7Cb8/s1600/just.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574188489380642" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 111px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfy9hd0MRY2gOFpW9RkF58dzfUzzijm3D1Mt1JMdxZAqssazgg9oHCRdZL4cKxxhMZfWBj8vootf0xO5YiCZPrBCmGWJXnFh9uN3nNDLps2SuovT3RBSgkSFgUub9PXbnq9D3foAnr7Cb8/s320/just.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZLtGfxxI4DooXSHAsQaO_0ef8ICgmxUqoDTunte0SGPJNOaOOa_Mzpi4iXmsX5nzmfKkKIINYd01s_TWcooAm0oKF4Tj07zx_0B-ONzl6OPCxa_vGSA_p9N31h9wT__30V8-mK33W2TC/s1600/odes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574426839580002" style="WIDTH: 72px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 107px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZLtGfxxI4DooXSHAsQaO_0ef8ICgmxUqoDTunte0SGPJNOaOOa_Mzpi4iXmsX5nzmfKkKIINYd01s_TWcooAm0oKF4Tj07zx_0B-ONzl6OPCxa_vGSA_p9N31h9wT__30V8-mK33W2TC/s320/odes.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4V4O9AP8kk1B7ak9S_2FxTK7o5-Llm6zeq55ZWMo4PLZj6EimvV9Fn634f0lpcThrSdoxiVliY2iRO_idPUcdSMD6T742UYZQoDopc8LCAkb9Ga0uIFRKfyx79J5bIqzRBEY0szePvVC/s1600/red.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574421799757554" style="WIDTH: 118px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 118px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4V4O9AP8kk1B7ak9S_2FxTK7o5-Llm6zeq55ZWMo4PLZj6EimvV9Fn634f0lpcThrSdoxiVliY2iRO_idPUcdSMD6T742UYZQoDopc8LCAkb9Ga0uIFRKfyx79J5bIqzRBEY0szePvVC/s320/red.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwG7w3cEXonQQRYK02ML10Yh9DTSG0Oc6Q1MtBVlittubPrDStFUu0tAqMcoY-R9nzKibS6HELb1s1Yjolf1-MYg4dRmdSXniswizvpdi3txj-l6rylNU6omQQj4RakmgeHejeRzr3RvZ/s1600/whiff.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574420817534498" style="WIDTH: 110px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 111px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIwG7w3cEXonQQRYK02ML10Yh9DTSG0Oc6Q1MtBVlittubPrDStFUu0tAqMcoY-R9nzKibS6HELb1s1Yjolf1-MYg4dRmdSXniswizvpdi3txj-l6rylNU6omQQj4RakmgeHejeRzr3RvZ/s320/whiff.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo090R4U-1u-HTkBNGzgVfQqxL2ozTKhUdAHOjQG4x73cyYFFtG1iVmn0vbntHQ-Odd7uGi-oz51ol6oPdkTP-9itcf0UIg7az4vkrGTqKqmJh0pKjcCoumUuFo8TiMlbwXCacdLILh9G/s1600/god.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574183123687762" style="WIDTH: 95px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 137px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo090R4U-1u-HTkBNGzgVfQqxL2ozTKhUdAHOjQG4x73cyYFFtG1iVmn0vbntHQ-Odd7uGi-oz51ol6oPdkTP-9itcf0UIg7az4vkrGTqKqmJh0pKjcCoumUuFo8TiMlbwXCacdLILh9G/s320/god.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ossG3IW7QsGTvK0AhmxfJD69DnSVADccxG6Fqnmb6U2krB8m9Co45XcL5dzzq9EtxNofbt026YqpLArc6KOVz3TH87MuP6SgLgzpuHAcWvftmaFYFSLV3Sxvh1wKimzSFp4QGwLtkNWt/s1600/canto.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574177206207266" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ossG3IW7QsGTvK0AhmxfJD69DnSVADccxG6Fqnmb6U2krB8m9Co45XcL5dzzq9EtxNofbt026YqpLArc6KOVz3TH87MuP6SgLgzpuHAcWvftmaFYFSLV3Sxvh1wKimzSFp4QGwLtkNWt/s320/canto.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAaxEH14fidSlcM9SM2ZQJDagsccbYoey-Dm8rUq9krYy9fgMvQLh_6N_lPoeg4sznErH6gC4jtiB4-KULGNwc1Luck96LOsMEMVfouNiATfohpOmTzxdCoKdnfy0KMXB_8lf35jKJpXy/s1600/dino.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455574184801142402" style="WIDTH: 111px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 111px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDAaxEH14fidSlcM9SM2ZQJDagsccbYoey-Dm8rUq9krYy9fgMvQLh_6N_lPoeg4sznErH6gC4jtiB4-KULGNwc1Luck96LOsMEMVfouNiATfohpOmTzxdCoKdnfy0KMXB_8lf35jKJpXy/s320/dino.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Do you enjoy poetry? What is your favorite collection? Happy Reading!<br /><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-1647235972795245862010-03-28T15:43:00.000-07:002010-03-28T16:02:23.234-07:00City of Thieves<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU2LTljOxNt6wUZu0mR_uQsPv44pOrWNKLOBj7eqNQXC3BpzPAPRPri3i7wzBbfG-7I2cjNQrj0r4QYg9PymFufU5mPS7tG-h7fKJFhKgVRnsclCbnh-6hzakp8a6AdCdOdFfHt7Qo9_i/s1600/thieves.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453819309823397650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 104px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 139px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJU2LTljOxNt6wUZu0mR_uQsPv44pOrWNKLOBj7eqNQXC3BpzPAPRPri3i7wzBbfG-7I2cjNQrj0r4QYg9PymFufU5mPS7tG-h7fKJFhKgVRnsclCbnh-6hzakp8a6AdCdOdFfHt7Qo9_i/s320/thieves.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/City-Thieves-Novel-David-Benioff/dp/0452295297/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269816314&sr=8-1">City of Thieves</a> has been on my TBR list for a while and when I saw that it was available at the library I scooped it up and enjoyed it. I don't read male authors very often- not for any particular reason necessarily. I think I just relate to the subject matter that women write about better? Is that stereotyping, close minded, etc? Hope not! </p><p>The premise behind City of Thieves just intrigued me. Two young men,Lev and Kolya, in a lot of trouble with the Russian army for different reasons, are given the task of finding a dozen eggs for a high ranking official's daughter's wedding. The two set off to find the eggs- really a very dangerous wild goose chase- and encounter many episodes ranging from disgusting, to hilarious, to shocking. Of course, since the novel is written by a man and the two main characters are male there is some sexual conversations. That type of conversation doesn't normally show up in the books I read but it takes a lot to offend me! :)</p><p>In reading <a href="http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/47040/">two</a> <a href="http://www.powells.com/authors/davidbenioff.html">interviews</a> with David Benioff I learned that he did very extensive research including travelling to St Petersburg. The reader is given the impression that this story is part of his grandfather's history. You learn in the interviews that it is just part of his fictional novel that he is hearing this story from his grandfather. I think that part could have been left out.</p><p>Have anyone else read City of Thieves? What about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Book-Thief-Markus-Zusak/dp/0375842209/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269817230&sr=8-1">The Book Thief</a>? I have read so much about it and picked it up in the bookstore yesterday and was surprised by the format? Anyone else?</p><p>Happy Reading!</p>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-66958203740333185242010-03-19T10:05:00.001-07:002010-03-19T10:35:49.359-07:00The Housekeeper and the Professor<div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLox3tTBbvv8r3GsfVstQHcbK6Mv4P5IwWrxgY1l7rQHkFNt1KWq85OOFq0uptxAUjW-GPOrdstYlaJ7bULJ9xv9eCpkOw3KqxHoC0DY9KvUXKxixm65PiR9WSqHHFfExR8A6oPt8mNoYQ/s1600-h/prof.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450395393765868882" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 125px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLox3tTBbvv8r3GsfVstQHcbK6Mv4P5IwWrxgY1l7rQHkFNt1KWq85OOFq0uptxAUjW-GPOrdstYlaJ7bULJ9xv9eCpkOw3KqxHoC0DY9KvUXKxixm65PiR9WSqHHFfExR8A6oPt8mNoYQ/s320/prof.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>I enjoyed <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Housekeeper-Professor-Novel-Yoko-Ogawa/dp/0312427808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269018216&sr=1-1">The Housekeeper and the Professor</a> by Yoko Ogawa. The premise of the books is very interesting and a brave endeavor for a writer. The professor from the title is a mathematical genius that was in a terrible car accident and only has 80 minutes of memory before it is erased and starts over. Anything before the accident he remembers. So the housekeeper has to reintroduce herself each day, etc. I thought Ogawa handled this idea very well without it taking over the book or things not adding up. The characters she brought together were very different and memorable but I felt that the whole book was a little surface level and I didn't get to know any of them very well. However, all in all it was a good read that I would recommend to others.</div><div align="left"><br />When I finish a book I love to go to amazon.com and see what else they recommend. Here are a few suggestions from The Housekeeper and the Professor:<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6eGKUTDw9Ej41Gk9iPE05j9zPtNM-fzvGN8fd0AwBh4bNigTMR843wv4_h5dFMnGhc2r2EUe51JrBUTuqaHjkJ376uy7nNp-c2rtJS-YCJ00QdqRN1ajNqVQmYfuRLh2_urNGE7BaMAL/s1600-h/hotel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450394133829607874" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY6eGKUTDw9Ej41Gk9iPE05j9zPtNM-fzvGN8fd0AwBh4bNigTMR843wv4_h5dFMnGhc2r2EUe51JrBUTuqaHjkJ376uy7nNp-c2rtJS-YCJ00QdqRN1ajNqVQmYfuRLh2_urNGE7BaMAL/s320/hotel.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmEAwherlfx4y91BNCTt5SmLHfjQn9hYwIuefC7p3iDQt8Vs01OQrpZyVcqdR6JNCdjFkQNkcy2TSUnxEbtiePHX-fUGsEtnb0JUb3zNGAkNwg7Q_-3CGpynilKy-BMGewPmeBedhIdSL/s1600-h/mine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450394734884705490" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmEAwherlfx4y91BNCTt5SmLHfjQn9hYwIuefC7p3iDQt8Vs01OQrpZyVcqdR6JNCdjFkQNkcy2TSUnxEbtiePHX-fUGsEtnb0JUb3zNGAkNwg7Q_-3CGpynilKy-BMGewPmeBedhIdSL/s320/mine.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-yqZKu9vWOfpSkkNyGhEamFy1XHIXzrydvzAk2wryRydv4V-cDTSepFmuFoHENr2bSFUzihyphenhyphena7Lawt_fK46eQdTOq5R1HQh8xSzs3w4yxGrhbjG-bi4McOqXTphQdDtMwABRj78Snk0E/s1600-h/help.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450394925355557026" style="WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 129px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-yqZKu9vWOfpSkkNyGhEamFy1XHIXzrydvzAk2wryRydv4V-cDTSepFmuFoHENr2bSFUzihyphenhyphena7Lawt_fK46eQdTOq5R1HQh8xSzs3w4yxGrhbjG-bi4McOqXTphQdDtMwABRj78Snk0E/s320/help.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt1IHH97DancHUx2dBO78ifmqc9651PEXuDm5YBb8rY0K_QH-USHJWBdcItefY24PguDKIONKPi63tttdiCVdngi-2mbUHN8V4yKKKHHLpqC7olutvC2ya0RoDY-W2rFGpqvEWbtGRQ76/s1600-h/bee.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450395200514515314" style="WIDTH: 91px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 128px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJt1IHH97DancHUx2dBO78ifmqc9651PEXuDm5YBb8rY0K_QH-USHJWBdcItefY24PguDKIONKPi63tttdiCVdngi-2mbUHN8V4yKKKHHLpqC7olutvC2ya0RoDY-W2rFGpqvEWbtGRQ76/s320/bee.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><div>I loved all of the above: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hotel-Corner-Bitter-Sweet-Jamie/dp/0345505344/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269018733&sr=8-1">Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Well-Mine-Gin-Phillips/dp/159448449X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269019175&sr=1-1">The Well and the Mine,</a> The Help and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Bee-Novel-Chris-Cleave/dp/1416589643/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269019233&sr=1-1">Little Bee</a>.</div><div></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMg2QxOM6SXNAHgMI_Dms31an-9XhFTcZXLArdlAnil7yUhv6RmiTuzuByA79dCPoek5NHqol9xYL09hb4wXqWKBlJ58cCFZVeRfj6WAWU2opno_eN1gzpzh9g94su7-RP0CABoUmCZj0/s1600-h/school.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450396570258471426" style="WIDTH: 92px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMg2QxOM6SXNAHgMI_Dms31an-9XhFTcZXLArdlAnil7yUhv6RmiTuzuByA79dCPoek5NHqol9xYL09hb4wXqWKBlJ58cCFZVeRfj6WAWU2opno_eN1gzpzh9g94su7-RP0CABoUmCZj0/s320/school.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEB8p0Fh4I5vRZBu33giBxjCsuXcMmvsWabJQNjoXFCn3pJlylmGmTV3b88QQTuR21oAEc-A7XYjynxMTLGkQIrve3ZgWo9EwTfeLk84CylTkRWq94-nZKF2yZPXCXtqATD8cr4yVO34m/s1600-h/stone.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450398107781837058" style="WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPEB8p0Fh4I5vRZBu33giBxjCsuXcMmvsWabJQNjoXFCn3pJlylmGmTV3b88QQTuR21oAEc-A7XYjynxMTLGkQIrve3ZgWo9EwTfeLk84CylTkRWq94-nZKF2yZPXCXtqATD8cr4yVO34m/s320/stone.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77ykAfzbFeAlDoOEhOsTKeehDSqgEKj363UuEVHM8s5AQ4Z9JWko91TqgTb2h-Ky0Q0fesTwcnURIEhzP4ggpgFTNSOIFk3ZDvSpC8BeUhGtH2ZGt1kZ0AFrKp9WttcguSK8pXwmVopd/s1600-h/wife.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450398446847734594" style="WIDTH: 105px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk77ykAfzbFeAlDoOEhOsTKeehDSqgEKj363UuEVHM8s5AQ4Z9JWko91TqgTb2h-Ky0Q0fesTwcnURIEhzP4ggpgFTNSOIFk3ZDvSpC8BeUhGtH2ZGt1kZ0AFrKp9WttcguSK8pXwmVopd/s320/wife.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div>I am adding the three above to my t0-read list on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">goodreads.com</a>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/School-Essential-Ingredients-Erica-Bauermeister/dp/B002BWQ572/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269019939&sr=1-1">The School of Essentials Ingredients</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Stone-Vintage-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0375714367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269019975&sr=1-1">Cutting for Stone</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reliable-Wife-Robert-Goolrick/dp/1565129776/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1269020002&sr=1-1">A Reliable Wife</a>.</div><div> </div><div>Happy Reading!<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div></div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-63855750902649693432010-03-16T15:25:00.001-07:002010-03-16T15:36:07.164-07:00Progress on the PileI know everyone is wondering how I am progressing through the pile of books I featured a while ago. Here is the update:<br /><br />* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Project-Morning-Aristotle-Generally/dp/0061583251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778862&sr=1-1">The Happiness Project</a> is still patiently waiting by my bed.<br />* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594488843/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778840&sr=1-1">Drive</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Blizzard-P-S-David-Laskin/dp/0060520760/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778772&sr=1-1">The Children's Blizzard</a> were returned to the library unread but I might revisit them soon. There are more urgent read waiting= Reading Rumble list.<br />* I finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Identical-Strangers-Memoir-Separated-Reunited/dp/0812975650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778745&sr=1-1">Identical Strangers </a>and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Housekeeper-Professor-Novel-Yoko-Ogawa/dp/0312427808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778720&sr=1-1">The Housekeeper and the Professor</a>. Will blog about those soon.<br />* I abandoned <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Let-Great-World-Spin-Novel/dp/0812973992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778692&sr=1-1">Let the Great World Spin</a>.<br />* <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mercy-Papers-Memoir-Three-Weeks/dp/1416567925/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778663&sr=1-1">The Mercy Papers</a> is still waiting. I can't bring myself to read about a woman's mother dying when my dad just underwent major surgery this morning. Maybe when my heart isn't so fragile.<br /><br />I am currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fever-1793-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/0689848919/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778641&sr=1-1">Fever, 1793</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Surprises-According-Humphrey-Betty-Birney/dp/B002NPCW6A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268778608&sr=8-1">Surprises According to Humphrey</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1805570">Here</a> is more of what I' ve been reading.<br /><br />What are you reading?<br /><br />Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-80621274055378650352010-03-14T09:31:00.000-07:002010-03-14T09:41:39.180-07:00Get Off The Bus<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0NYF2ZIY4OCtqFv7qqFg4ZSTnLfKyvhhlClVXNXk2259ADH9h5fhGOOcLQ55rIe1uRIpUBs60zIrKhekv5I4M5ftELg3Fk_J-bOiYCddOO9oBjybDs94F_gSEvj9NEyxj7IR2M4SLVSF/s1600-h/piper.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448528446076554306" style="WIDTH: 98px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0NYF2ZIY4OCtqFv7qqFg4ZSTnLfKyvhhlClVXNXk2259ADH9h5fhGOOcLQ55rIe1uRIpUBs60zIrKhekv5I4M5ftELg3Fk_J-bOiYCddOO9oBjybDs94F_gSEvj9NEyxj7IR2M4SLVSF/s320/piper.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="left">I just finished <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Piper-Reed-Kimberly-Willis-Holt/dp/B002XULZPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268584500&sr=8-1">Piper Reed, Navy Brat</a> by Kimberly Willis Holt. It is one of the Reading Rumble/Bluebonnet books. It was cute. Piper says "Get off the bus" as many of us would say "Get out of here." She deals with a lot of issues that chidlren her age deal with. I thought the book was nicely tied together at the end without being too sappy. Will definitely have to introduce third and fourth graders to Piper.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.kimberlywillisholt.com/">Kimberly Willis Holt</a> has written quite a few books for elementary aged students and this isn't her first appearnace on the Texas Bluebonnet List. Her book When Zachary Beaver Came to Town was on the list about 8 years ago. Funny how I can place myself in a certain classroom, at a certain school by the books on the Bluebonnet list! :) There are three Piper Reed books to enjoy as well.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Happy Reading!</div>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-71139698558289077782010-03-10T17:38:00.000-08:002010-03-10T17:46:52.750-08:00Let's Get Ready to Rumble...Last year my school district started a fun program called Reading Rumble. I'm sure lots of school districts do something similar. A list is established that 3-5 grade students are to read from and then each school's team's get together for a rumble. It involves answering questions and identifying quotes from the books. I'm not always in favor of questions and activities after reading. I'm a just read kinda gal but if it gets students excited about reading and talking about books then let's rumble. I am joining my school librarian in meeting with our team of students. So I will be trying to read the books on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Cscript%3Edocument.write(unescape(%22%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text/css%22%3E%0Abody%20%7B%20background-image%20%3A%20url%28%22http%3A//i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/ShabbyBlogs/PolkaDotParade.jpg%20%22%29%3B%20background-position%3A%20center%3B%20background-repeat%3A%20no-repeat%3B%20%20background-attachment%20%3A%20fixed%3B%20%7D%0A%3C/style%3E%0A%3Cdiv%20id%3D%22tag%22%20%20style%3D%22position%3Aabsolute%20%3B%20left%3A0px%3B%20top%3A30px%3B%20z-index%3A50%3B%20%20width%3A150px%3B%20height%3A45px%3B%22%3E%0A%3Ca%20href%3D%22%20http%3A//www.shabbyblogs.com%22%20target%3D%22_blank%22%3E%0A%3Cimg%20src%20%3D%22http%3A//i711.photobucket.com/albums/ww111/ShabbyBlogs/ShabbyBlogs.jpg%22%20border%3D%220%22/%20%3E%0A%3C/a%3E%3C/div%3E%20%22));%3C/script%3E">the list</a>. There is a good mix of chapter books and pictures books. Have you read any of the books? I will be checking back in with my progress and some info about the books. Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-14048667551476744212010-03-06T14:15:00.000-08:002010-03-06T14:26:51.725-08:00The To-Be-Read Pile<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3-g_PqUsmr1-vzO3FGi2WLNlfIq1N8niv8wqGHEXtCR39tvUkRH4Q31BNH0HI4yGxfKQHPCN8xhpGHgnPYr1qjtxxUvy-jbGyfBtgld1aDxT8dTmNocIYt0eQg0V4IPtmgHo0pCdtT_O/s1600-h/IMG_0174.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445648239754263650" style="WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 267px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3-g_PqUsmr1-vzO3FGi2WLNlfIq1N8niv8wqGHEXtCR39tvUkRH4Q31BNH0HI4yGxfKQHPCN8xhpGHgnPYr1qjtxxUvy-jbGyfBtgld1aDxT8dTmNocIYt0eQg0V4IPtmgHo0pCdtT_O/s400/IMG_0174.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="left">When I am ready for a new book I like to have choices. So off I went to the library today (after paying a hefty fine!) to gather some new possibilities. I love using the library for one main reason: it's FREE (except for the aforementioned fines!)! If I don't enjoy a book like I thought I would I don't feel bad about abandoning it if I checked it out at the library. I have a mix of memoir, fiction, and non-fiction in my pile. I am currently reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Let-Great-World-Spin-Novel/dp/0812973992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914064&sr=8-1">Let the Great World Spin</a> and it hasn't won we over yet. Of course, I bought it! The other books in my pile are: The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Housekeeper-Professor-Novel-Yoko-Ogawa/dp/0312427808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914111&sr=1-1">Housekeeper and the Professor</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mercy-Papers-Memoir-Three-Weeks/dp/1416567925/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914169&sr=1-1">The Mercy Papers</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Identical-Strangers-Memoir-Separated-Reunited/dp/0812975650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914214&sr=1-1">Identical Strangers</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Surprising-Truth-About-Motivates/dp/1594488843/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914246&sr=1-1">Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Childrens-Blizzard-P-S-David-Laskin/dp/0060520760/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914306&sr=1-1">The Children's Blizzard</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Happiness-Project-Morning-Aristotle-Generally/dp/0061583251/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267914345&sr=1-1">The Happiness Project</a>. I better get to reading!</p>malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-16380384927902795482010-03-06T06:55:00.000-08:002010-03-06T07:04:00.426-08:00The Movie Was Better Than The Book<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj6YkXv8fPCmakPa859SgW9a-LOZPkQqKz23GijQO7gZW4eJZr3HuOs2eAnWdUUlKU7jEbQzcxhUOzjFIMyFodqg7yZ0arUwaw4oY023qDL7KbyoSiTGiz6XJEPx13Po5HEuFkxRGF6qi/s1600-h/julie.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445535072144094082" style="WIDTH: 96px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 142px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOj6YkXv8fPCmakPa859SgW9a-LOZPkQqKz23GijQO7gZW4eJZr3HuOs2eAnWdUUlKU7jEbQzcxhUOzjFIMyFodqg7yZ0arUwaw4oY023qDL7KbyoSiTGiz6XJEPx13Po5HEuFkxRGF6qi/s400/julie.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />A few months ago I tried reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Julia-Year-Cooking-Dangerously/dp/031604251X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267887482&sr=1-1">Julie and Julia</a> (I hate when they change the book cover to the movie poster). I just couldn't read it! Julie, the narrator, was annoying and it read like stream of consciousness. So it is slated to make it's way to Half Price Books. But I did rent the movie the other night from one of those $1 kiosks. Well, I have now paid $6 to see the movie since I still haven't returned it! Story of my life! But, the movie was actually good. It isn't going to go down as my favorite movie but it was cute.<br /><br />Some movies that were as good as the book: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Runner-Khaled-Hosseini/dp/1594480001/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267887669&sr=1-1">The Kite Runner</a> (maybe just because I love the story), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Secret-Life-Bees-Monk-Kidd/dp/0143114557/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267887699&sr=1-1">The Secret Life of Bees</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystic-River-Dennis-Lehane/dp/0060584750/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267887742&sr=1-1">Mystic River</a>. What movies did you enjoy as much as the book or walked out saying, "Was that the same story?"<br /><br />Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-65651770668811789682010-03-03T17:39:00.001-08:002010-03-03T17:59:37.347-08:00The Sky Unwashed by Irene Zabytko<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ekbn0zYX106fydyLSATsq4dgm_RgppdFyeB881xTkTHhvCgEF42wHmpBlFFmLwix8fwEkPLqrMfI9uIJSSXXGqLKQ8M4Aw_xpCsRDNMRBH4d8ydJkuPXi6oGfGJSbWbthpJc_IBUM_hd/s1600-h/sky.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444588493973813906" style="WIDTH: 120px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ekbn0zYX106fydyLSATsq4dgm_RgppdFyeB881xTkTHhvCgEF42wHmpBlFFmLwix8fwEkPLqrMfI9uIJSSXXGqLKQ8M4Aw_xpCsRDNMRBH4d8ydJkuPXi6oGfGJSbWbthpJc_IBUM_hd/s320/sky.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />I'm not sure how I came to know about this <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Unwashed-Irene-Zabytko/dp/1565122461/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267666879&sr=8-1">book</a>, probably suggested by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/ref=gno_logo">amazon.com</a>. I was only 12 and not very interested in current events when the Chernobyl accident took place. The Sky Unwashed is an account of the events and how the residents of a nearby town dealt with the aftermath. I liked the book for the historical knowledge I gained but some points of the book dragged on and seemed awkward. I now want to know more about the Chernobyl accident and the area today. I have found a few books: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Voices-Chernobyl-History-Nuclear-Disaster/dp/0312425848/ref=pd_sim_b_2">Voices from Chernobyl</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zones-Exclusion-Chernobyl-Robert-Polidori/dp/3882439211/ref=pd_sim_b_4">Zones of Exclusion</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chernobyl-Confessions-Reporter-Igor-Kostin/dp/1884167578/ref=pd_sim_b_2">Chernobyl: Confession of a Reporter</a>.<br /><br />I'm also intersted in seeing <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0396959/">Chernobyl Heart</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0444996/">Child of Chernobyl</a>. I can't find either on Netflix so I will have to do some hunting.<br /><br />Next on the to read list- <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Let-Great-World-Spin-Novel/dp/0812973992/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267667855&sr=8-1-spell">Let the Great World Spin</a> by COlum McCann.<br /><br />Happy Reading!malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-8307918871683828442010-02-23T16:47:00.000-08:002010-03-01T17:05:50.959-08:00Best of 2009 ListWhile blog hopping I happened upon this <a href="http://bfgb.wordpress.com/">blog</a> and this <a href="http://bfgb.wordpress.com/2010/02/21/the-list-best-of-2009-aggregated-megalist-third-update/">post</a>. I immediately printed out the lists from the genres I enjoy and started investigating how many of the books on the lists I had read. I soon found that I hadn't read many at all and most of the titles I had never heard of. Does that make me a sheltered reader? Here are a few I have read:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxz-IlwBvyOKabETILnXd-YnbZziaVXrOlfdZ5Io2WmZkl9d_d5N1Dn-fjC21kFmtcCSe98IdrH3ODyMDV1_6SMzbXVREbHXdJ7lFx3nr_L80UDTaeYGWo0_nCnz1dKdMzY9f6ZLUt3bb/s1600-h/help.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443827393580359218" style="WIDTH: 85px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 136px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIxz-IlwBvyOKabETILnXd-YnbZziaVXrOlfdZ5Io2WmZkl9d_d5N1Dn-fjC21kFmtcCSe98IdrH3ODyMDV1_6SMzbXVREbHXdJ7lFx3nr_L80UDTaeYGWo0_nCnz1dKdMzY9f6ZLUt3bb/s320/help.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYd7QQRytUyOfciyQlS2b91OGmxWM1eJX45EfOZeDznwz4LjhYJYHjvpAEsM1UtPYuinq87XMIXVly9V0cU9hiW-aq_CKWK0AyYgbjceQgQ_w2MEGV4n6jP0Lk-B9LmAg2HBoWtQ6ScJO/s1600-h/horses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443828561465626818" style="WIDTH: 84px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 135px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjYd7QQRytUyOfciyQlS2b91OGmxWM1eJX45EfOZeDznwz4LjhYJYHjvpAEsM1UtPYuinq87XMIXVly9V0cU9hiW-aq_CKWK0AyYgbjceQgQ_w2MEGV4n6jP0Lk-B9LmAg2HBoWtQ6ScJO/s320/horses.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu4wqncf5Uj1v5-J23VcOWlV8cHywKf2sDiOdg7VQFB3Uij9CCPEWt_dlZ9JzLduZnSxL3J0Y3PzMhIbCBuMVZ26miR4nBM_BaFefavpZSdtB3VBN7v0tXQqdXFwoQejP2cjwqGxK9Ci5/s1600-h/hotel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443828833019079378" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqu4wqncf5Uj1v5-J23VcOWlV8cHywKf2sDiOdg7VQFB3Uij9CCPEWt_dlZ9JzLduZnSxL3J0Y3PzMhIbCBuMVZ26miR4nBM_BaFefavpZSdtB3VBN7v0tXQqdXFwoQejP2cjwqGxK9Ci5/s320/hotel.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEiVlfEQ-NzqC-zI7NwCD9T1P3JBkXO3mghu8kmy-SdQbGkHij_V2it8EzEA2b_58GZt1yR8SNZYLGCaugW4IESNaEE62AtytR3I-xFueY-1j8ZTWJTGtJ8Sf0fAUjcdKMgsMxDJTyTnN/s1600-h/elephant.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443829088923285202" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijEiVlfEQ-NzqC-zI7NwCD9T1P3JBkXO3mghu8kmy-SdQbGkHij_V2it8EzEA2b_58GZt1yR8SNZYLGCaugW4IESNaEE62AtytR3I-xFueY-1j8ZTWJTGtJ8Sf0fAUjcdKMgsMxDJTyTnN/s320/elephant.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I love historical fiction!<br /><br /><br />Here are a few from the list that like they have potential:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHSq3rvMoD_RTX10gdlN6A0T2rfK8tJRI41nAzmrb4UBMqy6f224Z_6-OnBtGE9SPnmZV1S9ydL9tW5RRBRlthIgdJB3c5Ycm9eYfAKsGu_B9O9Gr7ksa56-HsCZYWO6nVKwHo1ef6pPt/s1600-h/women.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443830056342637010" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvHSq3rvMoD_RTX10gdlN6A0T2rfK8tJRI41nAzmrb4UBMqy6f224Z_6-OnBtGE9SPnmZV1S9ydL9tW5RRBRlthIgdJB3c5Ycm9eYfAKsGu_B9O9Gr7ksa56-HsCZYWO6nVKwHo1ef6pPt/s320/women.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKYSyLgomONnr52GsSesTxK4oBeoXSqraIzfiDGQwgYVyGqJsz4S-di1GRoFnyK1804el_bLBvw-sgPsva6FI9qkc2Xt-biMusqYWMXIOHXUtw6LKovYW2Cxau47vVDHgvQEERUcFu11W/s1600-h/lark.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443830826800168034" style="WIDTH: 73px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 130px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbKYSyLgomONnr52GsSesTxK4oBeoXSqraIzfiDGQwgYVyGqJsz4S-di1GRoFnyK1804el_bLBvw-sgPsva6FI9qkc2Xt-biMusqYWMXIOHXUtw6LKovYW2Cxau47vVDHgvQEERUcFu11W/s320/lark.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIgwhg-PWk2-S-ACxk8IygH1OqJO0jCu5SCXQLOnHV_M58tRDTcg8ea85UPVLbxQtsf-P6jn7lR00c7xkviNbt6CRiNApDv2ur9jzx5qeaIKg6aZk3o9OAgGM3hL5fCkYRFiCefS6_jUV/s1600-h/clouds.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443831697738860786" style="WIDTH: 86px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 131px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIgwhg-PWk2-S-ACxk8IygH1OqJO0jCu5SCXQLOnHV_M58tRDTcg8ea85UPVLbxQtsf-P6jn7lR00c7xkviNbt6CRiNApDv2ur9jzx5qeaIKg6aZk3o9OAgGM3hL5fCkYRFiCefS6_jUV/s320/clouds.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />What's on your reading list?malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4066684061263863758.post-19599412483297516502010-02-21T10:33:00.000-08:002010-02-21T10:36:19.396-08:00In the beginning...I have considered starting a blog for a while now and have decided to jump in. I will be blogging about my reading life. I enjoy reading for myself and reading in preparation for my job as a literacy coach, whether it be professional books or children's books to suggest to teachers and students.malissa32http://www.blogger.com/profile/07207558927120762068noreply@blogger.com2