I have been enjoying leading a lunch time book club at Brooke and Brant's Middle School.  It's student directed (as in the kids choose what book they read and I get to read it and lead the discussion).  It's been interesting to see what books they choose, and to listen to what they thought about the book. 

3 character lines, all converging at a campground where a total eclipse is about to take place.  Good tweeny read about finding yourself.  Quick read in a few hours for me.

14 year old boy goes to live with dad who is a famous rock climber.  Dad agreed to it because secretly he wants to have his son climb Mt. everest and break the age record.  Interesting because it's so factual, fun to learn about Mt. Everest.

 

This was a super quick book to read, but I liked the way the other used art  and colors as descriptors to involve the reader.  It brought up a lot of discussion with the students about foster care, and the support of families in our lives.

 

I have been trying to find books that will interest Brant, and then reading them along side of him (or in the case of The missing, I finished them off so I could move on to my own books...  he'll catch up!).  The Maze Runner was an interesting series based on a future solar flare catastrophe that infects the population of the world with a horrible disease. The three book series follows a group of children as they are forced through deadly trials to try to help find a cure.  It seems like so many questions were answered in the 3rd and final book that might have been good information to have in the first to help keep the reader going.  They were quite adventurous and Brant LOVED them. I am excited to see the movie come out this summer (2014).

 



 

More Brant Books.  Good quick reads, interesting premise- time travel.  By the end they kind of started sounding the same, but they were fun boy books.

 

 

This series came recommended from Aunt Sanna, and I brought Brooke in on them as I figured they were right up her ally (and I was right!!!).  I loved the books, so much more then the Hunger Games.  That is, until the third one.  I only made it half way through that one.  The Author changed her writing style and the narrative voice, and even the characters personality seemed different.  I was happy with where I left it, and enjoyed creating my own ending (especially since word is that the ending of book 3 leaves much to be desired).  I hate it when author's do that!

 

 

I have to admit that I have also added stupid books to my list this last month or two.  But they are so fast to read, and it's fun to put myself into a completely stupid world with a little bit of romance but not icky and gross.  There is nothing note worthy about any of these books, but with Blair on the road so much with basketball this winter, they were easy to read late at night!  :)

 

 



 

 



I went to the school book fair this week- and had so much fun.  $50 and 18 books later I am a happy person.  The librarian recommended these other books.  Can't wait to find them!
Recommended Author:  Josh Green
Recommended Series:  The Genius Series

Some of the books that I got at the book fair that I am super excited about are:

~ Between Shades of Gray (NOT Shades of Gray!) about a family in Lithuania during WWII

~ Hattie Ever After- Sequel to Hattie Big Sky (which I just finished last week)  Read it all the first 
           night, and although it was good, I didn't like it as much as the first one.

 

~ Heist Society-  looks like a fun tweeny book about a family that are basically "robbers" and the daughter decides she wants to break out of the family business.  A light read- good for late nights... and hopefully Brooke!

 

The Vampire Diaries

Okay, Opening myself up to criticism here, but I loved the whole twilight series. 

 Read all of them several times. 

 *yes, I may be 14 years old at heart*

And I know this has nothing to do with books, but since the last twilight movie came out yesterday, it has me thinking about how sad I am when they ruin a good book series with a crappy movies.  I have seen quite a few movies made from books that I LOVE (even though the book is almost always better, and they rarely do a good job of accurately representing the book in the movie, but I digress)...

The point here is- the twilight movies drive me crazy.  Mostly it's the casting.  Could they have chosen a less appealing Edward?  A weaker Bella?  Could they have offered them acting and breathing lessons?  Alas, I have found a way to fulfill my vampire show desires.  It's still sappy, a night time soap opera, but it's enjoyable to watch late at night when no one knows I am. 

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

Currently reading "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress".  While I would have to put an * with a side note stating it's a very blunt book and there are a couple of conversations, that while I can imagine having them with my sisters, I wouldn't want them published.  Nothing too over the top, but borderline cringe maybe?  That being said, I've really enjoyed the book so far (not quite finished, something about being a mom and house work and running kids places seems to infringe upon my reading time).  It's been interesting to me reading and mentally comparing the female Mennonite view point on life with the female Mormon outlook.  It seems that while they outwardly live a very strict religion, it's not that different from Mormonism, along with the same concerns and worries. 

 

 

 

Talking w/ Mike tonight, he told me about Liz keeping a spread sheet of all the books she's read.  Man I wish that I had thought of that.  It would be really cool to look back over the years and see what I read and when.  I also realize that the list of books that I read would be much less inspiring, and not as "deep".  Mike asked what kind of books I read, and from my last few posts it looks like I only read tween-y fantasy.  Not so- but that's what Brooke is into lately, so I read all of her books also.  I also read books for her school's book club.  I like western's, mysteries, drama, and not so much love stories.   

On that note- I went back through the books I have read in the last month or so, and came up with a few of the titles.  I know there were a few more, but these are the one's I remember.  There were a couple of favorites from when I was Brooke's age: Across Five Aprils- I've read several times over the years, young kids book but still good

Westing Game- One of my favorite mysteries.  

Ah well, nothing inspiring, but fun to think about just the same! 

Hayley's Books

So- I don't know if you check this, Hayley, but if you do, could you give me quick run down of your book list? I have read many of them, but there are some that have me intrigued. I realized tonight that you and I read along the same lines, so I am excited to expore more of your "favorites". If you have time, could you point out which ones are on the top of your list? Uglies- Read Harry Potter- Read The Zion Covenant- Think i read? Anything by Victoria Holt- Read, over and over World War II Non-Fiction (The Hiding PlaceLOVE!! I read this every year but I haven't ever read-, I Have Lived a Thousand Years- just as good?) Sarah’s Key- ???? These is my Words- ??? A ustenland- ?? As in Jane Austen? Enchantment- Hmmm, sounds familiar The House of the Scorpion- ?? Doesnt' even ring a bell Ella Enchanted- both brooke and I loved it and are branching into her other works The Hollow Kingdom Series- ?? Intrigued I am :)

Septimus Heap

I admit that the cover of the book is what caught my attention. We were in the Youth department at the book store, trying to find a book series for Brooke , when I spied a display of the Septimus Heap books. There are five total in the series, I just finished number two. They are written like a Harry Potter/ Fable Haven- not to deep, lots of symbolism, and excellent for your imagination. Completely kid appropriate (I'll probably use this as a read aloud for my kids this summer) and fun for adults too. **This is with the note that everyone reading this post knows that I like books that I can read and and enjoy, but that don't cause me to think too much. Reading is my hard earned reward at the end of the "motherhood" day. ****Not that I am shallow or anything, and I can choose to read those books if I want to, I just don't want to. ********And i think that anyone who does is simply amazing. and maybe they should raise one or two of my children. ***********************Or maybe three of them. Preferably one of them is the one not potty trained. just kidding. honest