What I read in the Outer Banks

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In this installment of the Percy Jackson series, Percy must rescue his friend Annabeth from the clutches of the power hungry Kronos. He teams up with many old and new characters in his quest which takes him across the United States. This book is just as entertaining as the ones before it. The series is thoroughly enjoyable and readable. I love that Riordan does not really water down a lot of the violence. People die in this book and sometimes they are the wrong people. Some of the good guys go down and some of the bad guys don't. It's very real but still very kid friendly.




The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In this book, Percy Jackson and his friends must navigate through Deadalus's underground labyrinth to stop the Titan Lord Kronos from invading their precious Camp Half-Blood. The growing tension and danger is obvious in this book. Kronos is getting closer and the heroes' actions are getting more desperate but they are also getting stronger. This is an interesting series because the books usually take place over a very action-packed week or so. The next book then usually picks up about a year later so the reader does not witness all the growing up the characters go through. The characters grow nonetheless and it truly becomes obvious in this book that they are no longer children just getting immensely lucky (although Percy has a knack for getting immensely lucky).




The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


In this final book in the Percy Jackson series (though not Riordan's final book, thank goodness) the evil forces have descended fully upon the United States. The gods battle in the Midwest while the young demi-gods take their fight directly to New York City, the ultimate destination of the monsters and Titans. My first impression while I was reading this book was how wonderfully competent Percy had grown to be. At the very beginning of the book it becomes obvious that he is no longer relying on luck or assistance from those more capable than he is. Now he is the capable one. I read these books in quick succession, especially the last three. This changed how I experienced them, as compared to books I've had to wait for like the Harry Potter books. At times I was a little surprised at how much the characters had grown but I had to remind myself that time had passed and they had had time to plan and develop their skills. I loved this entire series, have recommended it to others, and will continue to recommend it as long as people will listen to me!




Great Classic Stories 3 by Various

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I listened to this collection while falling asleep every night and many nights I was sleeping before the story had ended so it took a long time to get through this playaway. Even so, I really enjoyed it. The stories are entertaining and I had not heard or read any of them before except "The Cheshire Cat" which really isn't that surprising since the number of short stories I read is very low. The narrators for this collection are also excellent. A couple of the tracks had some sort of interference in the sound and it created a buzzing sound under the narrator's voice. I didn't even finish "The Cheshire Cat" because the buzzing was so annoying. I don't remember which other story I noticed it on because it wasn't too bad and didn't really affect my enjoyment of the story.




It was pretty much a Percy Jackson love-fest for me last week. I am all about Rick Riordan right now but I'm hesitant to read his new series (there are 2 new ones!) because only the first two books have been published. I don't want to read one and then be restless for a whole year for the next one. I played that game with Harry Potter and it made me angsty. Of course, I'm thankful that I had that experience with the Harry Potter series because I think it added something to the wonderful mystique of it but that was a once in a lifetime thing. I don't think the world will see anything like Harry Potter again for a long, long time.

It's like a blog, but in video form.

I've started editing and uploading videos I took of our vacation to the Outer Banks to YouTube.

Here's the first one, as a freebie.



My other vlogs are on my channel at www.youtube.com/katieuhoo, and there are more vacation videos to come!

Vacation Review

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Charlie Asher is just your normal every day second-hand store owner until one day he becomes Death. As Death, his assignment is to collect souls from the dying and make sure they fall into the right hands by selling them in his shop. I thought this was an interesting and entertaining book, but it didn't shine. It wasn't great. Moore is a very funny writer, to be sure, and there were times when I laughed out loud or wanted to read a line aloud to someone. I just didn't love it and didn't find myself longing to get back to reading it when I was doing other things. The ending felt rushed and things started happening somewhat randomly. I'm not sure I'd recommend it to anyone except diehard Moore lovers.



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Some Roald Dahl Reviews

I've been on a Roald Dahl kick lately. He's one of my favorite authors from my childhood, so I've started collecting his books from a used bookstore. I read a few at work, and here are the reviews.

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I started this book at work and then couldn't put it down. I loved everything about it: plot, characters, and just the imagination behind it. I appreciated the fact that the characters had to work their way out of perilous situations, but the book ultimately had a happy ending. This book is one of my top three favorite Roald Dahl books, along with Fantastic Mr. Fox and The Witches.




The BFG by Roald Dahl

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This book didn't have me eagerly reading like most other Dahl books but I still enjoyed the story. The relationship between Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant was touching, and the moral issue that the BFG presents (that humans are the only species that destroy themselves) is definitely the highlight of this book. I would recommend this book to anyone because of its message and because of the lovable character of the BFG.



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Review: The Well

The Well by A.J. Whitten

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book was...strange. I really thought I wasn't going to be able to put it down when I started reading, but I was a little disappointed. The plot seemed to drag on during some parts. About two-thirds of the way through the story became more interesting, and luckily this book was saved by its ending. I think I would probably recommend this book to others solely because of the last few chapters, but unfortunately I was probably happier than I should have been when I reached the last page.



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The Missing Book Review: The Hunger Games

Dad, you were 100% correct. I somehow neglected to post my review of The Hunger Games. Here it is.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My expectations for this book were way too high. In my defense, I have been staring at the series on the bookshelf since Christmas and I kept hearing all about how good it was, so of course my excitement was building. When I actually got around to reading it, I was beyond excited and was prepared to become obsessed.



The Hunger Games is an enjoyable book. I really liked it. It was very compelling and made me want to keep reading. I found the romance subplot charming but not overdone. I admired the characters' courage but I didn't really love any of the tributes except Katniss and Peeta. I plan to finish the series but I do not know why there even needs to be any additional books. I thought this book wrapped up quite nicely. Bottom line: I liked it a lot but did not love it.




Katie, I know this is a book you reviewed too so you should post yours!

Bad Reviewer, Worse Blogger

Readers, I have let book reviewing fall by the wayside. Worse, I had reviews written that I had neglected to post on the blog. Not good, folks. Not good.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I consumed this book over one glorious long weekend. I listened to it on Playaway because I usually like listening to Jodi Picoult's books with all the different voice actors playing each narrator. I admit I've grown tired of Picoult's book formula but I completely fell for this book. I learned a lot, as I always do when I read Picoult, and I connected emotionally with each character. I also found the moral debate extremely compelling. Towards the end I do not think both sides of the issue (won't spoil it for anyone) were given fair treatment, but I can hardly blame her for that. She came down firmly on one side of the debate which she does not do very often or clearly, but I think she did it well. Everyone's always clamoring for movies to be made of Jodi Picoult's books but this is the one of the only ones that I think would make a truly great movie. Highly recommended.





The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A scary book to choose for my falling-asleep-read. I really enjoyed it and looked forward to going to bed every night just so I could plug into this book (listened to on Playaway). This is my first Doyle, not counting the stories my dad used to read to me at bedtime. For some reason I thought it would be inaccessible and difficult to get into but I was pleasantly surprised. I was into it from the very beginning.





The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma by Trenton Lee Stewart

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Yes, yes, yes. I am a total MBS fanatic now. I love the children, the adults, the love-to-hate-em enemies. The third installment was my favorite of the books and though everything wraps up nicely at the end, I have hopes for another. Prisoner's Dilemma involves another life and death adventure for our four heroes to tackle and it is an exciting one. An excellent book.





The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is an excellent series. It's not Harry Potter but it's the closest I've read to it. Sea of Monsters captured my attention from the first chapter and didn't let go. I love the adventures Percy has and I am excited to read more. I plan to savor the rest of the books.





The Slackers Guide to U.S. History: The Bare Minimum on Discovering America, the Boston Tea Party, the California Gold Rush, and Lots of Other Stuff Dead White Guys Did by Don Stewart

My rating: 1 of 5 stars


The worst book I've read all year. The introduction was entertaining but all the "factual" parts were terrible. Mixing pop culture and history, in this case, just did not work. Jokes were overused (everyone, let's lay off CSPAN for awhile, we know no one watches it) and most of the time were neither funny nor relevant. I think I know less about US history now.





The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked this book better than I liked the first in the series. I found it more compelling and less dull, though I still think there are a few too many meaningless, useless, and repetitive details. How many times do I need to read about characters making coffee and eating sandwiches? All in all, a very enjoyable book.





Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was dreading this book. I read Incarceron and was highly disappointed but I knew I wanted to read Sapphique just to finish out the short series. I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book, though I still wouldn't read it again or recommend it to many people. The constant switching back and forth between the prison and the outside world again made me angry. The perspective shifts were often jolting and didn't occur at logical places. It was better than Incarceron but still not great.





The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow, I was kind of blown away by this book. I would love to at least read this book with my class some day, if not write a whole unit on it. It could definitely be used with younger readers (I'm thinking fourth or fifth grade) because the heavy themes are right out there in the open. I was a tad frustrated as an adult reading it because there is no subtlety whatsoever, but it would really work with children I think. War, poverty, decision-making, right and wrong, etc. could be taught using this book. It's more powerful than its prequel, The City of Ember. I've got the third one on hold at the library and I am looking forward to reading it.





The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love this series so much. I think I liked this book even more than I liked the first one. I love the characters despite (perhaps because of?) their flaws. A fun scavenger hunt adventure book! Recommended for people who read young adult books.





The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This was everything I hoped it would be. My one complaint is that I thought there would be more opportunities to solve puzzles when in fact there was just a little triva quiz in the back. It was still pretty cool. I love books like this!





The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I had a really bad attitude about this book at first. As it went on, however, I got involved in the story and ended up enjoying it a lot. I will read the sequel, though it's not currently very high on my to-read list.

A Few Reviews

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book lives up to its hype. I love the premise and I love/hate the fact that if I talk about this book in a general way it sounds like Harry Potter (Adolescent boy with a somewhat troubled life who sometimes has weird things happen around him finds out something about his parentage that changes everything he's ever known and is then whisked away to have adventures with other kids like him.) I love the portrayal of the Greek gods and the modernization of their stories. I will relish the sequel.



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Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Mr. Popper's Penguins is a fun, nostalgic read. Written in 1938, it tells the story of Mr. Popper the house painter and the antics that follow when he finds himself the owner of twelve penguins. I enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of a simpler time, before computers and cell phones and when people were happy to host a family of penguins in their basement. Also, the illustrations are adorable and really add a lot to the story. Recommended for penguin lovers.



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The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The City of Ember is an intriguing young adult dystopian novel about a futuristic community that lives by the light of electric lamps. Once the lamps have gone off for the night, the people are plunged into complete and utter darkness. Much like The Giver the children of the community are assigned specific jobs that will help the community survive. This book is about the adventures of two children from the community who are worried the lights will one day go out for good. The story is interesting, but it's easy to tell this was written for a younger audience. I enjoyed reading it, but many times felt as if things were overly explained. I will read the second in the series because I am interested to find out what happens.



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The Secret of Heron Creek by Margaret Meacham

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is an enjoyable summer read about the Chesapeake Bay monster, Chessie. It's a short, easy read which would probably be good for third, fourth, and fifth graders. People who live near water will especially connect with this book since the main characters spend much of their time on a boat and on the shoreline. Recommended for Marylanders who like local stories.



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Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Had I read this book with no expectations I probably would have nicer things to say. Since I did have high hopes though, I was very disappointed. The story was sort of boring. The characters were a little random and a little underdeveloped, especially Attia, who I hate. The whole book seemed like it could have gone a little deeper. Normally I don't mind different points of view but the switching back and forth in this book was too much. Incarceron just was not what I expected.



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Fool by Christopher Moore

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I was disappointed with this book. I expected something more...interesting? I'm not sure what I really expected, but I know this was not it. Lamb was my favorite book of 2010. This just could not compete. It did help me remember the plot of King Lear, which I had stored away in some dark recesses of my brain, but other than that I really can't say that I learned anything or even enjoyed it that much. Sure, I smiled at some of the jokes but it was not nearly as funny as I was hoping it'd be. I'll read more Moore, of course, in search of something as good as Lamb, but I won't get my hopes up.



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Wow, I hadn't realized I was so behind on posting my reviews. I have been able to get a lot of reading done since school ended. I love it!

Book Review: Crusader

Crusader by Edward Bloor

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked the story behind Crusader, but I think there was just too much filler; I was really only interested in about two-thirds of the book. The most interesting part was when the main character, Roberta, was beginning to put the pieces of her mother's murder together, but unfortunately this only came into play during the last few chapters. As a side note, I found it very hard to believe that a 16-year-old solved a murder that the police couldn't, especially since the murderer had unique features that could have easily been investigated. I did, however, really like the main character. Roberta seemed kind of one-dimensional and wishy-washy at times, but really she was just quiet and independent as a result of her neglectful father. She's very easy to find sympathy for due to her poor living situation.



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Back to School Blues

Here's a rough idea of what I think every time I contemplate returning to school tomorrow:

"Back to school on Monday...that sucks."

"Oh! But I only have 10 days of school left! That's awesome!"

"Wait...three of those days will be taken over by AP exams, which I'm pretty sure were designed by Lucifer."

"Hm. At least these exams don't really count for anything. Who cares if I fail? I'm taking these classes next year anyway."

At which point Lucifer steps in and says:

"Have fun spending 3 hours hunched over a desk trying to write three essays on three different days, all the while dreaming of a beach and hoping your hand doesn't fall off! MWAHAHAHAHA!!"

8 days from now, you can find me running about the streets of Baltimore, pausing only to do heel clicks or to throw Calculus notes off bridges. Until then, I'll be sharpening pencils and trying not to get my tears on my flashcards.

Is there an alternate universe where I can read books all day and never interact with anyone ever?

The Scorch Trials--Review

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'm definitely jumping on the young adult dystopia novel bandwagon. I found this book as hard to put down as The Maze Runner, the first in the series. I did not like the setting as much and the new characters made my blood boil (I don't even know why I hate them, I think I'm supposed to like them) but I still found it impossible to stay away from this book for too long. It was extremely suspenseful and even terrifying at times. It's going to be a long wait for The Death Cure which doesn't come out until October!



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I am loving this new trend in young adult literature. I haven't even read The Hunger Games yet and that's the one that started it all!

Katie Succumbs to Peer Pressure and Reviews a Few Books

Kristin's been bugging me to do this for a while so I guess I'll give it a try...

Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I expected a lot from this book because I'd heard so much about it, but I was very disappointed. The writing didn't seem realistic at all, and a lot of the time I was just plain confused. I didn't even like the main character, which made it very hard for me to have sympathy for her. The plot was vaguely interesting, especially near the end but I really just wanted to get through it.




Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I actually liked this book more than I thought I would when I first saw it. The way the characters interacted was a bit fake, and I don't think Adriana Trigiani really has a great understanding of how teenage girls think and feel, but the plot was interesting. I love that Viola's main passion was filming and I think this was the best aspect of the book. I could have used a few more appearances of the ghost I was promised in the inside flap. Finally, I think the whole book could have done without the addition of Viola's love interest, Jared. This book wasn't bad overall but I don't think I need to read the sequel.




The Maze Runner by James Dashner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I knew before I read this book that I would like it, but I had no idea how much I would love it. Dashner ended pretty much every chapter with a cliffhanger, which of course had me reading chapter after chapter without realizing I was doing it. I think one of the most endearing things about this book (besides the characters- I loved all of them, even the ones I knew I was supposed to hate) was the slang used by the Gladers throughout the book. Not only was it unique and even humorous at times, but it was a constant reminder to Thomas that he was in new, confusing surroundings. This book had some technical errors that bothered me while I read, but it was just so interesting and difficult to put down that there was no way I couldn't give it five stars.




The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I didn't like this book quite as much as I enjoyed The Maze Runner, but the difference is so small that I gave it five stars anyway. The Scorch Trials is more violent than its brother, and the diseased Cranks were a bit too zombie-like for my tastes. Still, this book answered many questions asked in The Maze Runner and was just as intriguing. The cliffhanger at the end has me waiting impatiently for The Death Cure.



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Easter Break Reads

I was blessed with some extra time off this Easter. I used a lot of the time to wade through the oceans of work I still have to complete this semester, but I also managed to get some solid reading time in.

Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


If I think too hard about the themes of this book, I come up with almost nothing positive to say. It promotes lying to get what you want, it portrays the woman as idiotic and the man as conniving and clever, etc. I do not believe Mr. Dahl was trying to use this book to educate kids in the way of being deceitful spoiled brats, but it's hard to ignore. Still, it's a fast book and a fairly enjoyable read if you have a spare thirty minutes.



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Three Black Swans by Caroline B. Cooney

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I found this a suspenseful and moderately compelling read that nevertheless falls a bit flat. The writing was repetitive but not dull. The multiple perspectives were interesting but I think the reader could have benefited from the parents' perspectives a little earlier in the book. As it is, by the time the parents chime in, it feels a little random and seemingly comes out of nowhere. Recommended for girls who like suspense but not violence.



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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I have not read a book this addictive in a long time. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked and I never wanted to stop reading. I found the characters and setting extremely interesting and I just love the dystopian premise. This book is not without flaws, but I am willing to overlook them to award the full five stars. I am looking forward to reading the sequel immensely.



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Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Hmmm, books like this just aren't my cup of tea. Viola is an extremely spoiled child and is mostly unlikeable throughout the whole book. The characters' dialogue with one another is so unrealistic as to be ridiculous. Viola insults her new roommates before they even spend their first night together. No one I've ever met would do that, even if they were the Princess of Snark. The major exception to the unbelievable character rule is the RA, Trish, who gives a fun and authentic portrayal of the typical hyper-involved Resident Assistant. The texts and e-mails are a nice touch and a practical literary device. Recommended for teenage girls who enjoy modern realistic fiction.



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The Many Merits of The Music Man

When I'm really busy with schoolwork and I don't want to disturb my roommates with my overzealous vocal performances (I'm incapable of listening to music without singing along) I like to put on a movie that I know so well and have seen so many times it does not take up any extra space in my brain. The movie becomes lovely background noise for my homework and when I need a break I can easily tune in to the film, then just as easily tune back out.

Though I've seen The Music Man plenty of times, I've never been able to make it background noise. I recently tried to get work done while watching it and I failed miserably. When it's on, I just have to partake in it. These are just some of the things I love about the movie:

1. There is a barbershop quartet featured in it. I mean, really, how do you expect me to attend to my schoolwork when there is a perfect four-part harmony flowing out of my speakers?
2. Kristin Chenoweth is in it. In addition to having the world's best name, Kristin also happens to be my personal idol. If I got to pick one celebrity to be, it would be Kristin Chenoweth. I've also just revealed that I am partial to the 2003 incarnation of this musical. I like the 1962 Robert Preston version too, but I don't have that one on DVD.
3. Kristin Chenoweth plays a teacher (a piano teacher, but a teacher nonetheless) who doubles as the town librarian. If there was ever a more perfect combination of occupations, I've not yet heard of it.
   
4. The setting makes me feel summery inside.
5. Certain pieces of dialogue really speak to me. "I always think there's a band, kid" used to be one of quotes in my "About Me" section on Facebook. It might still be there, I don't often look at that section of my own page. I also just quoted this movie in my final reflection for my internship.
6. I made my musical theater debut as a pick-a-little lady when I was in seventh grade so this musical will always have a special place in my heart.

I could go on, but I'll spare you, dear readers. Just wanted to share my love for this beautiful musical in my little corner of the web.

Hattie Big Sky--Review

Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I've gone back and forth on a 4 rating or 5 rating for this book but since it's been three days since I finished the book and I still can't stop thinking about it, I've got to give it the full five. I love this book. I love the characters and I am obsessed with the setting, both location and time period. At the end of the book, the author lists other books about homesteading and I intend to try out a few of them. I will definitely revisit this book some time.
I disagree with the publishers on the appropriate age level for this book. It's listed as a 5th grade reading level with an age range of 9-12. First, I do NOT think this is written on a 5th grade level, especially since the subject is something students will likely know very little about. (I did not even know what homesteading was until I read this book.) Second, most middle schoolers I know would probably be bored by this book unless they were history buffs. I think this book would appeal more to adult women who love history. I could be very wrong of course, and I hope there are classes of seventh graders cheering for this book.



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Double Feature Book Review: 2 for the post of 1

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I don't know what to say about this book. Sometimes I really enjoyed reading it and other times I felt ambivalent toward it. The family's craziness makes for a compelling read most of the time and it works even better because the reader knows it's all true. I think I may have missed the point of this book about how family should stick together because I kept wanting to shout at the kids, "Get out and leave your crazy parents behind!" There's not a lot to like about the parents in this story, which may be part of the reason I'm not over the moon about it as many people are. I really need to care about the characters and most of the time in this case I just didn't.



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This is a terribly written review. I feel like I just have nothing to say about this book other than, "Gosh, that family is super crazy" which is what the review boils down to.



The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This book had an excellent ending but it just could not make up for its earlier transgressions. I thought it was a bit of a slow read and I did not even like the characters that much. I thought this whole book was going to be about the trip to Birmingham but it took them a very very long time to get on the road. I really just did not care about everything that happened before they started talking about going to Birmingham.



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A disappointing book from the genius who wrote Bud, Not Buddy. I believe this was his first novel, so he definitely improved a bit before writing Bud.

The Name of this Book is Secret--Review

The Name of This Book Is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


I had pretty high hopes for this book. It often gets compared (rightly) to Series of Unfortunate Events and I loved the beginning of that series. Everything Unfortunate Events had right, this book has wrong. The intelligent and quirky children are forgettable. Neither of the main characters struck me as someone I'd want to be friends with. The interrupting narrator, which I quite enjoyed in Unfortunate Events, seemed gimmicky and annoying in this book. The mystery is so-so; I never quite cared whether or not they solved it. I always felt Lemony Snicket was just twisted enough to let bad things befall his characters at the end of the book so I often worried about them. I never found myself getting concerned for the characters in Secret. All in all, a pretty disappointing read. Perhaps kids who got hooked on Snicket will enjoy this series, and if it motivates them to read that's excellent and my opinion of the book doesn't matter.



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Bud Not Buddy--Review

Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I accidentally spoiled the ending of this book for myself while I was reading. Curse my wandering eyes. It's a shame that happened because this might have been a five-star if things had turned out differently for me and my sneaky-peaking. Poorly-timed spoilers aside, this is a fun and addictive book. I always read before I go to sleep. This book made me want to wake up in the morning to read some more. Bud's narrative voice is realistic and funny. This book was a joy to read and I recommend it everyone of middle school age.



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I apologize for the dearth of real posts of late. When I have a limited amount of free time I'd rather read than blog. Sorry.

The View from Saturday--Review

The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I originally read this when I was in sixth or seventh grade and I hated it. It's one of the few books from my childhood that I remember actually disliking. As I was rereading it this week, I understood why I didn't like it. The timeline would be a little hard to follow for a middle school student and there is so much that is hinted at, yet never stated outright which probably frustrated the part of me that likes everything to come out tied up neatly. Additionally, a big part of the book requires the reader to take a leap of faith and trust in the impossible. As soon as I got to that part this time around, I literally said aloud, "This why I hated this book so much."
Now, I love this book! I'm usually drawn to quirky children in literature and this book is nothing if not full of quirky children. I recommend this book for adults who like kid lit.



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The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo--Review

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is an odd book to have received such widespread public acclaim. For one thing, it is about 250 pages too long. The story I thought the book was about, that is the story from the synopsis on the back cover, does not begin until about 100 pages in and has a satisfying ending with 100 pages still to go. That story is a good and compelling one, if a little frustrating. Readers who think they're going to be given a chance to solve the mystery alongside the protagonists will be disappointed. The clues are unavailable to the reader as they mainly involve decades-old photo albums. That said, the mystery is interesting enough to keep me curious and wanting to read into the wee hours.
Another thing that surprised me about this book is how unabashedly violent it is (though on second thought, that could be something that attracts it to the American public, warmongers that we are). Murder, physical and sexual assault, and animal cruelty abound. I like a good crime novel as much as the next girl, but this was a bit more explicit than most of what I've read before. I think it was the animal cruelty that was the worst. Steer clear of this book, PETA.
Other complaints: -There are too many characters to keep track of with names too similar to each other. (Berger and Birger? Was that necessary, Larsson?) I'll attribute that to my limited knowledge of Swedish names, since before I read this book the only name Swedish name I knew was Astrid as in Lindgren.
-There's far too much in the way of business dealings for my taste. I just found myself not caring about this part of the book and it drags on for pages and pages.
All in all, I'm glad to have read this book. I'll probably read the next in the series at some point because I like to finish what I start and even though I have a lot of complaints about this book I did enjoy it. The translation from Swedish to English is smooth and did not pose any problems. The main story and parts of the business/journalism stuff were good.
Recommended for business majors (maybe they'll find the finance parts more interesting than I did) and lovers of crime novels.



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Chocolate is Good for You

Have you ever noticed how chocolate brings out the best in you? Disregarding acne, chocolate serves to encourage good habits for me, and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

I came to this realization while eating Raisinets today. According to the box (and boxes don't lie), Raisinets are a natural source of fruit antioxidants. And Raisinets provide the antioxidants I wouldn't have gotten from raisins, because I don't eat raisins. Obviously the chocolate deserves some credit here.

And that got me thinking: how else does chocolate encourage healthy behaviors? Well, if you like chocolate covered nuts, you're in luck! Nuts have essential fatty acids, a low glycemic index, and are sometimes prescribed for people with some types of diabetes. Nuts also have lots of vitamins, and people who eat them are less likely to have coronary heart disease. Okay, okay, so the chocolate definitely takes away from the nuts. But what if you wouldn't eat the nuts without the chocolate? Something to chew on...

Also, I'm one of those people who really doesn't like milk. Oh, I'll have it when it's in my coffee or muffins, as well as when I'm eating...

...you guessed it. Really, people. Eating one square of a chocolate bar gives me the almost insatiable urge to guzzle half a gallon of milk, and that can't be bad for me at all, can it? (As a side note, I'll also drink milk when mixed with chocolate syrup. But who's surprised by that?)

While I'm pretty certain no doctor would ever recommend chocolate for a healthy diet, it's hard to ignore the positives it encourages too. I mean, if I'm eating it anyway, I may as well point out the benefits.

In other news, dark chocolate really is good for you.

Canines and Felines

This is how I greet my dog when I haven't seen her for basically any length of time longer than 1 hour:

"HIIIIIiiiiii, Girl!!! Whatchu doing?? Awww, such a sweet puppy! HII PEP! Come here and seeeee meeee!!! Kissy kissy, love you, smoochy face!!!"

This is how I greet my cat when I haven't seen her for a week:

"Oh, hi, Kitten. You don't really smell good like a kitten anymore, you pretty much just smell like a regular cat. Let's snuggle for one minute then I'll go back to mostly ignoring you and I'll ask you to do the same for me."

The Last Unicorn--Review

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Last Unicorn is a beautifully written fantasy story. It is the first book I've read by Peter Beagle but now I'm anxious to read more. The story was a bit slow in the beginning, but the pace picked up within a few chapters. I don't recommend this for someone looking for a light easy read because the writing deserves to be reveled in and lingered over. Highly recommended for people who appreciate good books and good writing.



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Now I'm reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I'm enjoying it!

My life right now

Here are some random things about me at this moment in time:

My music tastes vary based on what I'm doing. My current workout tunes are The Eagles greatest hits. "Life in the Fast Lane" and "Already Gone" really make me feel like jogging. In the car I listen to Glee and a Michael Buble mix and I try to just let them play and not select the songs, but I have been favoring the Rocky Horror Glee album. When I'm doing work I like to listen to Gordon Lightfoot and sometimes The Eagles again. I'm absolutely obsessed with The Eagles song from their 1994 reunion "Love Will Keep Us Alive." I wake up to it as my iPod alarm every morning and for the past 20 minutes I've been listening to it on repeat and there's no end in sight. I take my obsessions very seriously.

Google calendar tells me there are 150 days until summer vacation. I'm very excited.

I'm tired of complaining that I never have time to read for fun so I started making myself read for a little while after I finish my work but before I go to sleep. Sometimes it's very late when I finish my work but I still read at least a little bit. I like it; it's a very nice thing to do right before bedtime. I even installed a little battery operated touch light right above my bed so I can turn all the lights out and still read.

I watch a lot of TV but I only watch about half of it live. I love hulu.

I hate reality TV and I always say it's because I don't care what other people are doing with their lives and I don't think it should have any bearing on my life. I don't know if that could be true, though, because I also love reading other people's blogs, which shows that I do care what other people are doing.

It took me 4 tries and many hours of edits to finally get my resume approved by the fine folks at the campus career center. Today I went to a seminar about getting a job and I thought of so many changes I need to make to that stupid document. I wish I could just write "Hire me, you won't regret it." Maybe that would be OK if I had majored in badassery, but that kind of thing does not fly in the education world.

My predictions are doing terribly

but none of it matters because I just saw the autotuned Ron Weasley song "Little Ball of Light." That deserves to win an Oscar in itself, in a new category. "Best Autotuned Fake Song" perhaps or maybe "Best Performance by a Ginger" or even "Most Gleeful Part of the Oscars." Seriously, that made me giddy. Thanks, Academy.

Oscar Night!

Faithful readers:

I have decided to reveal unto you mine own prediction sheet, hereafter known as "ballot," for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards. My ballot is the result of plentiful research and stalking of the Divine Blogs of Those Who Know Best mixed with complete guesses. As you'll see if you study the holy document, I have shown a slight bias to the film "The King's Speech" pursuant to the talk on the Divine Blogs. Recently it has come to my attention that the mighty "King's Speech" will fall to a film with less critical acclaim, but it is my ever-humble opinion that anyone wishing to make a safe bet will stick with this film tonight.

Of all the films nominated tonight in every category, I regret that I have seen but three. Therefore, few to none of my opinions count at all and are merely a reflection of what I have read in the Divine Blogs. Please note that I selected films based on what I thought would win, not what I hoped would win.

Enjoy the Oscars tonight, faithful readers.

Memories and the story of how I might be losing my mind

Today I had a very nice phone conversation with my dad about books we've read, are reading, and want to read. He recommended a book to me by a guy named Peter S. Beagle. He then told me he had given me a book of stories written by Beagle when I was younger and that I had read the first one and been disturbed. Apparently he had never intended for me to read that one (a likely story) and he had really been more interested in my reaction to stories later in the book. What I don't understand is why I have absolutely no recollection of this. I don't remember Peter S. Beagle. I don't remember my pop not only recommending a book (which he does fairly regularly) but also providing me with said book (which he does less often). I even looked up the story which had supposedly turned me off of the book entirely and I didn't even spell the title correctly. Is this real? From the timeline we were discussing, this would have happened while I was in high school. I should definitely remember something like this; it happened less than ten years ago. I'm angry at my own mind for not filing this away in some safe place for me to come back to later. Why don't I remember?!?

Why Avril Lavigne is Awesome

1. She writes her own music (most of it, anyway) and it's good. Avril's music is super-catchy and makes you want to get up and dance (which Ally and I did the other day at Panera Bread while listening to her newest single "What the Hell"). And another thing, it's not about stalking her ex-boyfriends either (I'm lookin' at you, T. Swift).

2. She's the perfect combination of girly-girl and tomboy. Although she used to be all about being "one of the guys" (see album "Let Go") Avril has since embraced her inner skirt-wearing fashionista (see album "The Best Damn Thing"). Now, she tends to hang right in the middle. Perfect.

3. Have you seen her latest video? I mean for real. In just three minutes and forty-six seconds, Avril locks her boyfriend in a closet, steals a taxi, CRASHES the taxi, joins a basketball game with a bunch of men who can only be described as giants, and ends it all with a stage dive. All while shamelessly promoting her own products as well as those of Sony. (Although the viewers and fans did feel shame during these parts.) Okay, so she didn't shoot fireworks out of her stomach. That's impossible anyway.

Avril's new CD comes out March 8. Yay! I, for one, will be there, in line, uhhh...sometime in March. But rest assured I will definitely own it by April!

P.S. Sorry, Kristin, for totally stealing your "list blog" idea. In my defense I've been planning this post for awhile, and the layout you used fit my idea as well. *sheepish grin*

A message to Amazon

This is what Amazon would have to do to get me to consider buying a Kindle:

1. Scroll the text continuously. I know this makes me sound incredibly lazy, but hear me out. I like to read while I’m at the gym. I currently use my iPod touch for this because I have an app called the iFlow reader which so generously scrolls the text for me so I don’t have to worry about hitting the pesky touch screen to turn the virtual pages (I feel idiotic just typing that, please don’t judge me). The scroll speed can be adjusted so I can set it at a comfortable reading pace. I actually find it a very pleasant reading experience and I’ve read a couple of books like this. So, if you think about it, a scrolling feature would encourage me to be less lazy because I would use it at the gym.

2. Offer a more extensive free library. I never buy books, with the very huge exception of books I purchase for my future classroom. What I mean to say is that I never buy books that I know I will read only once; I am a very loyal patron of my local library. If I could “rent” virtual Kindle books (for free) for two to three weeks and then have them disappear from my device, that would be cool. I like the idea that with a Kindle I could have access to a book I want at a moment’s notice. I don’t like the idea that I would be paying full price for something I would most likely not purchase and something that I cannot even pass along to someone else when I am finished.

3. Convince me that owning a Kindle is different than owning an iPad. I could be wrong about this, but I believe there is a Kindle app for the iPad and that the app could perform most, if not all, of the functions of an actual Kindle. To me, that sounds like a Kindle imbedded in a much more useful device. Until someone can prove to me that it is better to have the actual separate Kindle, I think I’ll save my money for an iPad.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I liked this book, though I can't say I loved it. It took me a while to get into it and I eventually had to put it on hold. When I finally got around to picking it up again, which was months later, I found it much more likable than I had originally thought. It was easy reading and it was pretty interesting I guess.



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Maniac Magee

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Maniac Magee is a brilliant book. I wish this book had been required reading when I was in sixth grade; I'd love to know what my sixth grade self thought of it. There are plenty of teaching points here, but it is also just a plain good read, which is why this is a classroom classic. I was a bit wary of Jerry Spinelli after I read Fourth Grade Rats with my student teaching class last year. They loved it, but I did not. This book made me a believer again. Read this book!



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Red Kayak Review

Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love everything about this book. The characters were authentic, the action was gripping, and the setting was vivid. In my mind's eye, I can see Brady's crab cages all stacked up, four deep. I would recommend this book to anyone, but people who grew up on the waterfront will particularly connect with it. There were plenty of "human condition" themes to tap into which makes this a good book to teach to a mature seventh or eighth grade class. I will read this book again someday.



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Thanks for the recommendation, Ally!