Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Faculty book club plans
Our faculty book club is getting ready to read Pictures at an Exhibition by Sara Houghteling. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston has an online book club and they offer free tours for certain books, including Pictures. So on January 29th we have reservations for the book club- a docent at the museum will give us an hour tour to explain the paintings mentioned in the book that they own. How fun will that be? Of course, we will have to eat while out and about. Our museum has a Cafe Express on site, so that will be a great place to eat and enjoy the culture our great city has to offer. I can't wait.
A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper
Take a small crumbling castle on an out-of-the way island. Fill the castle with a king who "rules" over a dwindling kingdom, and an odd assortment of characters. Add in a few Nazis who show up suddenly and Sophie, a young girl who is keeping her own history of Montmaray and you have the makings for a historical fiction novel with a bizarre story line. Not the fastest read or the most exciting, but it definitely has a quirkiness about it that makes it an entertaining book. Grab a cup of tea, sit back and relax and enjoy the read. Perfect for a cozy afternoon on the sofa.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Where to start?
Since I last blogged I have read so many good books, including adult books like The Help by Kathryn Stockett that our faculty book club read. Our meeting usually lasts an hour, but the discussion on this book was so varied and interesting that we met for an hour and a half or more. Read it- even students will enjoy the story of maids in Jackson, Mississippi during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Told from three points of view- Minny and Abileen are maids and Skeeter is a white woman whose family has always had a maid. Once you start reading this one, you won't want to put it down.
If you love the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, you must read Mockingjay, the final book of the trilogy. District 12, all of Katniss' family and friends are in grave danger at the hands of President Snow. Find out if Katniss ends up being with Gale or Peeta! I thought it was very well done, but not all of our students feel the same way. Not every loose end was tied up nicely, but it was great that Collins finished out the trilogy and didn't drag the series out.
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi is an exciting fantasy and adventure "semi post- apocalypse" novel. Nailer is a ship breaker, one who goes into old ships to pull out the wires for salvage. It is a lowly, dangerous job. The overseer treats him badly and would fire him at the drop of a hat if he or any other ship breakers don't meet their quota.. Nailer's life depends on this job. Nailer finds a girl on board a clipper ship who is alive and running from kidnappers. He has many decisions to make regarding the girl, and his future depends on these choices. If you loved Hunger Games, you will love this adventurous book and you will wait with anticipation for the next one to come along! Don't miss it! It is an edge-of-your-seat kind of read.
Just finished Crash Into Me by Albert Borris. A group of four students meet online in a chat room where they make a connection,all of them are young adults who have tried to commit suicide and still want to go through with it. Owen and the others decide that they will all take a road trip together and they make a suicide pact to commit suicide at the end of the trip. Their journey takes them to some very random places as they sights related to suicides of famous people along their journey. Mr. Borris creates real characters that you find yourself rooting for as they travel together- four lost souls put together in a car for two weeks. Imagine the possibilites! A funny, bittersweet novel with some very depressing aspects to it as well. You will enjoy it.
I picked up Walter Dean Myers Lockdown earlier this week. I am already fascinated by the main character, Reese, who is in juvie but he is allowed to work ten days a month in a nursing home as part of a pilot program. He is assigned to help a very frail and ill genleman, but he keeps messing up by getting into fights and the next step for him is a high security level prison filled with gangs who would probably kill him. His goal is to convince Mr. Hooft that he isn't a bad person and to keep his nose clean until he can get out of his juvie center and regain his life in society. Great characterizations- I can't wait to see how this one plays out. I already love Reese and the way he interacts with Mr. Hooft is interesting to say the least. This is a great read for guys.
If you love the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, you must read Mockingjay, the final book of the trilogy. District 12, all of Katniss' family and friends are in grave danger at the hands of President Snow. Find out if Katniss ends up being with Gale or Peeta! I thought it was very well done, but not all of our students feel the same way. Not every loose end was tied up nicely, but it was great that Collins finished out the trilogy and didn't drag the series out.
Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi is an exciting fantasy and adventure "semi post- apocalypse" novel. Nailer is a ship breaker, one who goes into old ships to pull out the wires for salvage. It is a lowly, dangerous job. The overseer treats him badly and would fire him at the drop of a hat if he or any other ship breakers don't meet their quota.. Nailer's life depends on this job. Nailer finds a girl on board a clipper ship who is alive and running from kidnappers. He has many decisions to make regarding the girl, and his future depends on these choices. If you loved Hunger Games, you will love this adventurous book and you will wait with anticipation for the next one to come along! Don't miss it! It is an edge-of-your-seat kind of read.
Just finished Crash Into Me by Albert Borris. A group of four students meet online in a chat room where they make a connection,all of them are young adults who have tried to commit suicide and still want to go through with it. Owen and the others decide that they will all take a road trip together and they make a suicide pact to commit suicide at the end of the trip. Their journey takes them to some very random places as they sights related to suicides of famous people along their journey. Mr. Borris creates real characters that you find yourself rooting for as they travel together- four lost souls put together in a car for two weeks. Imagine the possibilites! A funny, bittersweet novel with some very depressing aspects to it as well. You will enjoy it.
I picked up Walter Dean Myers Lockdown earlier this week. I am already fascinated by the main character, Reese, who is in juvie but he is allowed to work ten days a month in a nursing home as part of a pilot program. He is assigned to help a very frail and ill genleman, but he keeps messing up by getting into fights and the next step for him is a high security level prison filled with gangs who would probably kill him. His goal is to convince Mr. Hooft that he isn't a bad person and to keep his nose clean until he can get out of his juvie center and regain his life in society. Great characterizations- I can't wait to see how this one plays out. I already love Reese and the way he interacts with Mr. Hooft is interesting to say the least. This is a great read for guys.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
One More Note
Did any of you read The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey? If so, you might want to know that the sequel is out!! So, come by the library soon to get a copy of The Monstumologist: The Curse of the Wendigo or go buy yourself a copy. Of couse, only if you have the stomach for it. Mine hurt after the first 16 pages of the Monstrumologist. You are on your own for reading the second one- I don't think I can handle it!!!! If you are squeamish like me, you might want to pass this one up or skim it first!!
Way behind!!
Trying to redeem myself for the new school year- I am obviously way behind in my blogs!
First of all, mark your calendars now as our 3rd Teen Lit Fest will be held at Atascocita High School on January 29, 2011!! We have a great list of authors who will be attending the event and YOU will want to be there also!!
Now, to books I have been reading over the summer. With apologies to my students out there, I have mostly read adult novels since school let out. It started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which peaked my interest and got me hooked- even though the beginning was slow and rather detailed. I hope that you will pick it up when you are older. Now, to also give myself an excuse for not getting more YA books read, I traveled to New Zealand and Australia in June and carrying a lot of YA books or taking two adult ones was the issue, so I opted for the two thick ones to streamline my packing (in my small carryon suitcase, I might add!!). Now, sadly, while on my trip I finished the above mentioned title and was searching my small suitcase for the second one, which I was sure I had packed, and lo and behold, I didn't have it with me after all- long story there! So, I did read Sisters Red- an interesting read for all of you fantasy readers out there- who do you think the story was based on? Werewolf chasers, extraordinaire!! Lots of action and some characters reminincient of your childhood. Mix in some romantic tension that makes you wonder....
Afterwards, I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson and loved it- funny in places, sad in others- this was the story of Will Grayson who in a very unlikely location meets another Will Grayson. The twists and turns in humor in this book will keep you laughing and reading and wishing for more!!
NOW I am reading World without End, sequel to Pillars of the Earth, over 1000 pages worth. It is a really good read, especially for those who read Pillars. Very detailed and lots of good background on cathedrals and medieval times.
Also, I am reading Fallout, Ellen Hopkins' book that ends Christina's story. If you love Ellen Hopkins and you read Crank and Burned, you owe it to yourself to see the books through to the end. I am more than halfway through and will be finished hopefully before school starts Aug. 23rd.
Next on my list, Sarwat Chadda's new book: Dark Goddess- it's not been published yet, but I am borrowing it from Mrs. Schilling, since she received the ARC and has already finished it.
So, I will try to do better about letting you know what I've been reading and hope you will share your list of great reads with me. There are lots more books sitting at home waiting for me to pick up.
See you soon, everyone. Hope your summer is lots of fun and that you have read lots (more than me!). One more thing- in case you were wondering- I am still reading actual books and haven't yet bought a Nook, Kindle or IPad- how about you??
First of all, mark your calendars now as our 3rd Teen Lit Fest will be held at Atascocita High School on January 29, 2011!! We have a great list of authors who will be attending the event and YOU will want to be there also!!
Now, to books I have been reading over the summer. With apologies to my students out there, I have mostly read adult novels since school let out. It started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which peaked my interest and got me hooked- even though the beginning was slow and rather detailed. I hope that you will pick it up when you are older. Now, to also give myself an excuse for not getting more YA books read, I traveled to New Zealand and Australia in June and carrying a lot of YA books or taking two adult ones was the issue, so I opted for the two thick ones to streamline my packing (in my small carryon suitcase, I might add!!). Now, sadly, while on my trip I finished the above mentioned title and was searching my small suitcase for the second one, which I was sure I had packed, and lo and behold, I didn't have it with me after all- long story there! So, I did read Sisters Red- an interesting read for all of you fantasy readers out there- who do you think the story was based on? Werewolf chasers, extraordinaire!! Lots of action and some characters reminincient of your childhood. Mix in some romantic tension that makes you wonder....
Afterwards, I read Will Grayson, Will Grayson and loved it- funny in places, sad in others- this was the story of Will Grayson who in a very unlikely location meets another Will Grayson. The twists and turns in humor in this book will keep you laughing and reading and wishing for more!!
NOW I am reading World without End, sequel to Pillars of the Earth, over 1000 pages worth. It is a really good read, especially for those who read Pillars. Very detailed and lots of good background on cathedrals and medieval times.
Also, I am reading Fallout, Ellen Hopkins' book that ends Christina's story. If you love Ellen Hopkins and you read Crank and Burned, you owe it to yourself to see the books through to the end. I am more than halfway through and will be finished hopefully before school starts Aug. 23rd.
Next on my list, Sarwat Chadda's new book: Dark Goddess- it's not been published yet, but I am borrowing it from Mrs. Schilling, since she received the ARC and has already finished it.
So, I will try to do better about letting you know what I've been reading and hope you will share your list of great reads with me. There are lots more books sitting at home waiting for me to pick up.
See you soon, everyone. Hope your summer is lots of fun and that you have read lots (more than me!). One more thing- in case you were wondering- I am still reading actual books and haven't yet bought a Nook, Kindle or IPad- how about you??
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Read on- if you can!!
Trying to read several new books, but getting my hands on them is next to impossible because I keep giving up the new titles to our students!! Catching Fire is one that I so want to read. So, students, if you are reading this, please hurry and finish so that your librarian can have a turn!! READ FASTER!!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Catching Fire; sequel to Hunger Games
I picked up Catching Fire at our local bookstore, then took it home to read. I made the mistake of bringing it to school so I could read it later in the day. Librarians are suckers for students who love to read (go figure!) and so when a student asked me if I had the sequel to Hunger Games, I could not tell a lie! So, just enough into the book to get me hooked, I have given it up for the greater good. Just so you know, I am also still waiting for Tricks to come back so I can read it, not to mention several other titles- I need to learn to put one aside for myself!!
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