Mrs. Gillmore's Book Reviews

2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

2012-01-16T12:16:00.001-06:00

Enjoyed this one more than I did the first time I read the Harry Potter series. I had forgotten so many of the details...or maybe I did not even notice all of them during my first reading of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. And I noticed several hints of future stories to be read!

Harry and his friends, they are all just so young! Mere babes! I do appreciate the diversity of their characters: Harry, the homeless; Ron, the red-head, and Hermione, the brain. All, individuals...yet all a team.

I am re-reading this series for the Harry Potter Re-Read Book Challenge, something I have wanted to do for some time.

Now, to re-watch the movie...such a good day for this. No school today (MLK). Plenty of time to watch as I prepare my husband's 50th birthday day dinner...:)

UPDATE! Tuesday, January 17

Last night, we re-watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. That was such an interesting experience...to have just completed the novel and then watch the movie. I noted some deletions but was impressed with the amount of detail and scenes included within the movie.

Again, Harry, Ron, Hermione...just babies! So cute...and brave!

1: Eat, Pray, Love

2012-01-16T11:59:00.000-06:00

So good! My first read of 2012 was Elizabeth Gilbert's nonfiction reflection in Eat, Pray, Love on her journey to develop a more meaningful relationship with God. Again, this is one of those books that I has sat on my bookshelf waiting on me...and waiting, for I had read the book before I can watch the movie, right?

Why did I wait so long? God. He knew this book would speak to me, right now, at this particular time in my life when I, too, am working on my relationship with God in a more intense manner than ever before in my life.

I absolutely love Gilbert's voice, her writing style. She took me there, to Italy, India, and then Indonesia, teaching me so much about all three countries and so much else, about relationships, culture, religions, and, ultimately, about myself.

The human-factor is probably what I appreciated the most, though, about this book. Elizabeth Gilbert is a woman, who is quick to point out, what to her, are flaws and one who is just as quick to rejoice in her achievements, whether they are personal, emotional, or spiritual.

Five Stars. That's what this book receives from me. Please read this one, for there is absolutely no way the movie can even come close to all the content contained within this great read. Just to confirm that theory, though, I can now watch the movie! Yay, me!

Reading...Yes, I Am!

2012-01-09T20:36:00.000-06:00

I have begun the year reading...several books at one time! Here's an update:

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: Again, I have had this book for some time and will not watch the movie by the same name...have to read the book first! Right? WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG? Love, love this book! Much more to say about this novel in the upcoming review!
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: I am re-reading this novel for a Harry Potter Re-Read book challenge (one book a month) and because I really like this series, and it is just time to re-read this adventure with Harry. He is just so young in this novel! That boy grew up through that series!
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson: This will be my first read on an e-reader (also for a challenge, of course!) on my daughter's Ipad. Maybe this format will grow on me! I also chose this one because a student asked me to read this novel, for he was impressed by the meanings within the layers of the book. Good enough reason for me!
Deeper Reading by Kelly Gallagher: A professional read, from this book, I have already gleaned several nuggets for use in the classroom.
Bible in a Year: So far, so good! I am actually ahead of schedule in my reading of the Bible in chronological order.

For some reason, I feel like I am behind on my reading, for it's already January 9, and I have not completed one book yet!

Next read...need to re-read The Outlander to begin a re-read challenge for this series.

What are you reading good?

2012 Book Challenges

2012-01-01T20:08:00.000-06:00

I have signed up for several book challenges for 2012...please view my post at Treasure Chest of Thoughts for a preview of my upcoming reads.

Happy reading in 2012!

2011 Book Challenges

2011-12-30T23:02:00.000-06:00

What a grand year of reading! I signed up for three reading challenges...and here are the results!

Dana Huff's Challenge Books I Should Have Read in High School : I initially signed up to read twelve books. Yes, aggressive! However, I did read eight, achieving "graduate student."

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Vern

What's in a Name : Uh, oh! Missed this challenge by one! I should have paid more attention and chosen a book for each category.

A book with a number in the title:

Fahrenheit 451
The 360 Degree Leader
Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25
Slaughterhouse Five
The 9th Judgement
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

A book with jewelry or a gem in the title:

Hum...just cannot find a title from my list that fits within this category!

A book with a size in the title:

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (league is a size, right?!)

A book with travel or movement in the title:

The Walk
The Sun Also Rises
Miles to Go

A book with evil in the title:

The Poisonwood Bible (poison!)
Wicked
The Book of Unholy Mischief
City of Fallen Angels

A book with a life stage in the title:

Dead in Dallas
The Christmas Wedding

RIP : This was my second year to complete this challenge! September and October are just the perfect times to read such novels!

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris
Cross Fire by James Patterson
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Gillmore: More Reads in 2011 - This was a personal challenge to myself. I won!

2010 = 30 books read
2011 = 59 books read!

All in all, this has been an excellent year of reading! Yes, I had hoped to read more professional books, more classics, but again, all in all, a very good year!

#59: Focus

2011-12-30T22:08:00.000-06:00

My final read for 2011, Focus: Elevating the Essentials to Radically Improve Student Learning, by Mike Schmoker, is the selected read for our entire school district.

Our superintendent read this book, and it spoke to him as the answer to our implementing the Common Core Standards.

Here are my initial thoughts on Focus in a post entitled Surreal? No, Real Focus and later here in post A Friendly Literary Merge, where I also discuss Pérsida Himmele's and William Himmele's professional development book Total Participation Techniques.

The first three chapters discuss the what and how we teach literacy, discussing two templates the author promotes: authentic literacy and interactive lecture. Then, the next four chapters focus on the curriculum areas of English language arts, social studies, science, and mathematics.

Schmoker repeatedly promotes teaching less more indepthly and utilizing textbooks, which is interesting since our department no longer uses textbooks. Hum...

We have spent one professional development day reading portions of the book, then discussing in our PLN's. We are scheduled to continue our work with this book and the implementation of its key components next Wednesday as we return to school for another day of developing professionally.

I recommend this book, for it is based on common sense, of which education needs a healthy dose!

December Reads: Books #52-55.5

2011-12-26T21:33:00.000-06:00

Christmas has come and gone...amazing! With the passage of December, thus far, I have read three Christmas novels and, along with the season, have enjoyed these literary creations

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

A quick read, this one tells the story of a mom who invited all her kids home for Christmas and to her wedding to a groom she has yet to announce...from the three who have proposed. Interesting dilemma! One that I enjoyed, though! More info here on the James Patterson website...

A Chesapeake Shores Christmas by Sherryl Woods

The O'Briens have fallen in love and desire to remarry, but mother Meagan holds out for the approval of all her children. As I completed this one, I wished for the next in the series. Ah..will have to wait for next year, I suppose! AND according to the Sherryl Woods website, I am year behind in this series. Uh, oh!

A Log Cabin Christmas Collection by various authors

Last year, I began the first in what I now think is going to be a series of these short story collections....A Prairie Christmas Collection. I only completed half of the short stories then, so I resumed where I stopped, and then while shopping for a Christmas present in a local Christian store for a friend, I found A Log Cabin Christmas Collection. Now, I just hope there is a third installment to this series!

Shakespeare Christmas by Charlaine Harris

The third in the Lily Bard series, this novel takes the reader to Lily's home town for her sister's Christmas wedding and a few murders. I just love this series! Lily, a survivor of a brutal rape, works hard to become physically independent (she's very strong now), has a hunky boyfriend (her past scars do not deter him), cleans houses for a living (this just makes her even more believable to this working mom), and assists in solving crimes (in her spare time, of course!).

I went in search of the next in this series, but having misplaced it from myself, I instead chose Richard Paul Evan's The Christmas Box Collection. December is not over yet! Good, so far...more on that to come!

I hope your holiday is finding the gift of books in your life also!

46-51: Fall Reads

2011-11-04T17:32:00.000-05:00

I have met my goal to read 50 books this year! Yay!

For the R.I.P. Challenge: 4 novels

The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen: So good! I enjoyed this one as much as I enjoyed Allen’s Garden Spells. Just a touch of fairy tale and magic. I loved main character Josey, who seems so human because she is not perfect. The main imperfection at the moment is Della Lee who has taken up residence in Josey's closet and is now privy to Josey's secret: she loves sweets (me, too). Want to Read by This Author: The Peach Keeper and Shoot the Moon.
Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris: Need to read more in this series! I have several more of Sookie Stackhouse's adventures awaiting on me. Remember, Sookie is not a vampire herself. She just dates a vampire. Her "gift" is that she can read minds of everyone except her vampire. While I do enjoy this series, I must recommend Harris’ Lily Bard series…must be the English teacher in me and that I live in Arkansas!
Cross Fire by James Patterson: I so enjoy reading James Patterson. This one I purchased before my daughter’s surgery and read following our move out of ICU…a nice escape from reality! This novel continues the adventures of Alex Cross, who once again must protect those he loves the most as their lives are endangered by the return of Kyle Craig, who has escape prison and has adopted the persona and face (via reconstructed surgery) so that he might more invade the live of Alex Cross.
The House at Riverton by Kate Morton: This one which I just finished this morning, took me a while to read; even read a couple in between. BUT it was good, just not as good as my previous Morton read The Forbidden Garden. This novel relates the story of this house through the memories of Grace as she records them for her grandson. This novel reminded me somewhat of The Great Gatsby, as it was set in the 1920's and 1930's. To read by this author: The Distant Hours.
The Host by Stephanie Meyer...I completed this one after the R.I.P. Challenge. It was on my original list to read. So good! Why did I wait so long to read this one? Loved it! Much more so than her Twilight series. Seriously!

For My English 11 Class:

The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane is one of those classics that I should have read somewhere along the way but did not. This is the first of four novels that I purchased, thanks to a grant I received, for all of my students. I enjoyed it. No, it is not a chick flick, but the novel relates an interesting perspective of war.

My favorite lesson that I taught using this novel also involved a movie clip from Forestt Gump. At one point main character Henry Fleming runs because he is scared. We compared this scene to the one of Forestt when he was in the Vietnam War and he was instructed to run. Interesting comparison.

Fifty-one books...and more to read!

45: The City of Fallen Angels

2011-08-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

Cassandra Clare continues her The Immortal Instruments series in The City of Fallen Angels as she builds several of her characters, especially Simon who has just recently become a vampire...thinking Simon may now be my favorite character, for he seems to be the most "human" of all. Weird, uh?

Before I began reading this one, in a discussion with a teacher-friend who is also hooked on this series (yes, I like it as well, if not better, than the Twilight series), she commentd the author must be going to write another one, for "she just can't let it end that way." I agree...but that is all I can tell you! (I did check out her website, and Clare is working on #5: City of Lost Souls, coming in May 2012.)

Another note on the popularity of this novel...three students want this novel as soon as I return it to the school library. Very proud of myself...I checked this book out, instead of buying it. I am just too addicted to books, so in one small step to break this trend, I went to the shelf, read it, and did not annotate one single place in the novel. (Annotation is part of the addiction, also!) Now, I am excited to return it to school tomorrow and share!

Now, to begin The Infernal Devices series...book one The Clockwork Angel sits waiting on me. (Yes, I bought that one!) This series is actually the prequel to The Immortal Instruments series. A flashback of sorts, I am assuming.

NOTE: Cassandra Clare blogs here.

44: A Midsummer Night's Dream

2011-08-28T10:12:00.001-05:00

My motivation for reading this particular play: Our drama department will perform A Midsummer Night's Dream later this fall, and I am reading Iron King because I heard it referenced this play. Thus, my thoughts are that I might create some mini-lessons for our English department to use by connecting this two genres in hopes of promoting the drama departments production. Sneaky? :)

Admission of Guilt: I went online and read an overview of the play (had never read this one! How did that happen?)...(in a very quiet voice)...this did help much in my quicker reading of the play!

Our drama teacher has modernized the storyline, and I can now further understand her enthusiasm, for this plot line will definitely appeal to this age group and especially to those who have enjoyed the fantasy literary revival of late. Her production will be set in a modern high school setting.

Shakespeare has everyone falling in love...with the help of a little magical concoctions...and then falling out of love...and even includes a Romeo and Juliet extreme love scene. Oh, and one cannot help but laugh as several make donkeys of themselves.

Yes, the drama department and the audience should appreciate this one!

Now, to finish reading Iron King and to begin making text-to-text connections between the two genres...

Read A Midsummer Night's Dream online here.

00: The Book Whisperer

2011-08-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

I am not counting this book as one of my 2011 reads...I sat down with it and quickly realized it is not one that "fits" who I am right now, so I skim/scanned the book in one evening.

Author Donalyn Miller is a sixth grade language arts teacher in Texas who succeeds in kids reading 40+ books per year...yes, amazing...and she discusses how she achieves this goal.

My goal is to have kids reading...right now, all my students have checked out a book that they are reading for "pleasure." With the advent of the Common Core, though, my focus has changed (thankfully!); therefore, we may read less, but read them more in depth.

Need tips and encouragement, though, to send kids further down the literary path...especially younger readers...then this professional development book is for you!

43: Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom

2011-08-13T22:46:00.000-05:00

Our English Department chose this book to read as our summer reading assignment...and from me it receives all positive reviews, except for just one thought. The book was written for instructional leaders, not teachers. As a teacher, I was offended, often expecting the word imbecile to pop off the page in reference to the leader in the classroom. (Felt this most strongly in the last chapter, so if you are a teacher, you might consider just ending the book at chapter 7.) My problem with these authors and others who support such subtle suggestions is that these people have forgotten that they are simply support staff for the true leaders in any school district. I wish our thinking on the chain of command were not so skewed, but it is. Now with that side note...okay, fore-note aside, I would love to share the nuggets that I, just a teacher, gleaned from this book.

The authors Connie Moss and Susan Bookhart are ever-encouraging student involvement in their learning...and this I love! (I will be the first to admit that I need be LESS the sage on the stage and MORE of the guide on the side.) They promote the students being involved in setting goals, self-assessing, and asking effective questions. They promote the teachers being involved in sharing learning targets, providing feedback that informs and "feeds forward" (formative assessments = "assessments for learning rather than assessment of learning"),and asking strategic questions.

I especially appreciated the discussions about...

having students create an assignment's rubric,
utilizing formative assessments (and, no, I do not already use these...or at least not enough!), and,
asking questions (both from the teacher and the students).

Yes, this was a good read to finish...just one day until school starts...a good read from which I truly hope to implement that nuggets listed above.

41-42: James Patterson and Neil White

2011-08-13T17:03:00.000-05:00

41: The 9th Judgement by James Patterson

I waited long for the next installment in this series The Women's Murder Club. James Patterson writes with a powerful voice and with gruesome detail.

If read Patterson, then will enjoy this one...but first read the other eight in the series!

42: In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White

This one I read for the local ladies book club that I have yet to attend...actually, this is the second novel I have read for that book club! Maybe third time will be charm!

This memoir is outstanding! It relates the narrative of Neil White's year spent in a federal prison, which also housed the last people in the United States suffering from leprosy. Really! I found that hard to believe also!

This is one of those books you read...and immediately think, "I need to re-read that novel one day." Felt the same way about The Shack and The Harry Potter Series.

What I appreciated most, the true message of the memoir for me, was the change that occurred with Neil White, as he learned what he truly valued in life.

Yes, another good read!

40: Slaughter-House Five

2011-07-30T09:40:00.000-05:00

Chosen for a Book Challenge...

37-39: Thirst Series by Christopher Pike

2011-07-30T09:38:00.001-05:00

Yes, another vampire series....

36: The Help

2011-07-30T09:37:00.004-05:00

Loved this novel! Set in Mississippi in the 1960's, this novel permitted my glimpsing into a time in history that I had not ever paused long enough to fully appreciate.

NOTE: the author Kathryn Stockett submitted this novel 61 times before a publisher accepted it. Yes, 61 times. She believed in story, and her faith has now paid off, for her readers support her, and now the movie industry does also, as the big screen now brings to life the lives of these characters (so very sad that the local theater is not bringing this one to our local big screen).

The novel relates the narrative of African-American maids who took care of and raised so many of the children in white households during this time and the treatment they received during this quite volatile time in history. Told through the voices of Aibileen and Minny, two of the maids, and Skeeter, a young white woman who decides to tell their story, the reader experiences much, learning that one is quite and a rock, while another is loud and hard yet soft at the same time, and the third is driven to be accepted yet to be different.

What impacted me the most was the faith embedded within the characters. Despite their fears for the safety for themselves and their families, they chose to take a literary stand and proved that once again the pen is as mighty as the sword.

Please consider reading this novel...again, this is one of those novels that sat on my shelf waiting for over a year. Books are like that, though. They are very patient, holding all the wonders, experiences, and life-lessons within their covers, waiting for us to learn and grow, page by page.

34-35: Theodore Boone and Tough Customer

2011-07-23T11:29:00.000-05:00

In what spare time I had at Student Council Summer Leadership Workshop, I snuck in some reading time!

#34: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer

Author John Grisham has a new young adult series (at least to me...two in this series are now out). His main character Theodore Boone is a lawyer-want-to-be, who some might view as a nerd, but many view him as their shining knight in law books, as he helps several of them with legal advice. Until...one such confidante pulls Theo into a current on-going trial with information that could affect the outcome of the trial.

Theo, a thirteen-year-old, will definitely appeal to middle-school aged readers, but I have to admit...I liked this novel, enough so that I plan to introduce Theo to my students this fall.

I also appreciate introducing or reminding my students of authors with connections with our home state, which John Grisham has...remember The Painted House, set not too far from our area of the state.

Now, to read Theodore Boone: The Abduction...to find out what other adventures Theo will soon be involved.

#35: Tough Customer

I picked this one up on one of my trips to Wal-Mart to begin reading as I sat waiting on medicine to be processed at the pharmacy. I have enjoyed some of Sandra Brown's action, suspense, will-the killer-be-caught-in-time novels.

This one narrates the tale of parents who have kept the identity of their daughter's father until her life is threatened and the skill of the father is needed to assist in protecting and assisting in finding the now deranged killer.

For some reason, the flashback chapters bothered me a bit...I supposed I wanted to read faster and wanted the secondary story to move faster.

What "hot" reads have you been reading this summer?

30-33: Recipes, Gardens, and Shakespeare

2011-07-15T08:39:00.001-05:00

30: The Recipe Club by Andrea Israel and Nancy Garfinkel

A good read, written in the genre of emails and recipes, this novel caught and held my attention, as I entered the lives of two ladies who had once been best friends and progress (and regress) through multiple decades of their lives.

I enjoyed the novel. The emails took abit getting used to; they actually slowed me down, for I had to go back and check dates and keep up with who was writing, but after several pages, I the storyline began to flow.

If you like chick-flick novels, you will enjoy this one!

31: Gardens Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

I purchased this novel after reading a review of The Peach Keeper (also by Allen) on Dana Huff's book review blog. (By the way, this would be an excellent blog for you to follow...unless you do NOT want to read more books!)

I loved, loved (yes, loved squared!) Garden Spells (and I very much look forward to reading The Sugar Queen, which I also purchased by this same author). This novel contains just enough fantasy, with a very healthy dose of realism, to appeal to my reader's imagination.

You may go here to read an excerpt from the novel and to meet main character Claire...and to obtain some of the recipes that Claire uses throughout the novel that cast the magical spells upon those who enjoy the the edible creations.

The "magic" within this novel is just enough, not morbid, nor overdone. It's enticing, especially the tree within the garden. Please consider allowing this novel's magical powers cast its spell on you!

32: Shakespeare's Landlord and Shakespeare's Champion by Charlaine Harris

A native of Arkansas, I especially appreciate Arkansan Charlaine Harris's series that is set in Shakespeare, Arkansas (fictional) about her main character by the name Libby Bard...yes, Bard, a character that will affect you, change you because of the extremely harsh events in her life.
Lily, a housekeeper by trade, flits in and out of the lives of the residents of Shakespeare, getting to know them better than anyone else, as she cleans their homes and workplaces, all the while attempting to maintain a low profile herself. Twice, though, so far, in the two novels I have read in this series of five, Lily finds herself assisting the peacekeepers, by giving input and using her self-defense training to help bring justice to those violating the rights of those in Shakespeare.

I like Lily. If I were to meet such a person as she (actually, I can think of a few students with her personality type), I am not sure, though, that I would be able to get to know them, for persons of his nature take a lot to time to get to know. Only with the reading of the second novel, did I feel like I was "getting to know her." The lesson here, though, is that she definitely a person worth knowing. Yes, the gift of time in friendships is invaluable.

My wish? That the two next installments in this series were sitting on my side-table, waiting for me to read them. To get to know Lily more, I will have to wait a few days, for then I will read Shakespeare's Christmas and Shakespeare's Trollop.

If you desire to learn more about Shakespeare, the playwright, by reading this novels, CAUTION, you will be disappointed! Just so you know...

Also, yes, True Blood, the series on HBO, is based on Charlaine Harris's other series based on character Sookie Stackhouse (includes vampires!).

Enjoy!

26-29: Four More Reads

2011-07-05T14:41:00.003-05:00

On books 11-15, I inserted an extra book number; thus, on this blog I am accounting for that mistake...so Book #26, Part 2...

26: Washington's Lady by Nancy Moser

My second novel of historical fiction in a row! (See previous post for Remarkable Creatures.) Love this author (ordered more of Nancy Moser's novels) and really appreciated her insight into the life of Martha Washington. My first literary unit will be initially based on the first founding documents...seems appropriate to include George AND Martha Washington, especially since I know realize what an ever greater impact that she had upon the founding of this nation.

Written in first-person point of view, this novel chronicled the life of Martha from the death of her first husband to the death of President George. A Christian, Martha made mistakes, she succeeded, she cried, she laughed. This novel made her "human" to me.

Prepare to be intrigued, as you learn (or are reminded of) interesting facts about both George and Martha Washington.

....I think (cannot remember for sure!) I purchased this book at Hastings for $4.97. Certainly received more than $5 worth of entertainment from this novel!

....I also look forward to reading How Do I Love Thee (about Elizabeth Barrot Browning) and Just Jane (about Jane Austin) and Mozart's Sister (about Nannerl Mozart).

27: The Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers

I checked this book out of our church library some time ago (so glad we do not charge overdue fines!). Really wished I had read it sooner so I could recommend it to my church lady friends.

The novel tells the stories of two women Sierra and Mary Katherine: Sierra's set in modern day, Mary Katherine's, via a journal, set back in the "pioneer" days. Not sure which plot I enjoyed the most, maybe both? For each seemed to parallel, foreshadow the other's live as each fought, then sought a closer walk with God.

Both women women move great distances, both literally and spiritually, in an endeavor to please and appease their husbands. The journeys cost much, yet the results are pleasing and comforting.

Francine Rivers faces head on, never skirting, the issues of infidelity, hurting hearts, and the power of admitting one's faults, and then forgiving one's self and others, as well.

If you enjoy a woman' story with a Christian emphasis, you will definitely enjoy this novel.

28: Shoot the Moon by Billie Letts

Through a friend, I learned about a local women's book club, whose chosen book of the month is Shoot the Moon. The lady at the bookstore where they host the meetings did not have a copy of the novel, so I purchased it from half.com for $.75 (plus shipping and handling $3.99)...and got my money's worth in reading entertainment!

This novel tells the story of a man thought murdered as a baby who, having just learned about his adoption returns to Oklahoma to hopefully meet his real mother, only to find that she had been murdered. So begins the search for what really happened way back when...the journey includes meeting a host of characters that Billy Letts brings to life...characters that make you laugh, sympathize, and maybe even empathize.

I look forward to reading more by Billie Letts...a good read!

29: Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans

The second novel in The Walk series, this next installments continues Alan's journey of healing from the many great losses he has experienced that initiated this walk.

In this journal (for that is the genre through which Richard Paul Evans portrays this character's thoughts, feeling, emotions), we meet and greet characters that proves that God places people in our paths that sometimes we are to help. Sometimes they help us. One of those such characters is Kailamai. The true story behind this character may be found here on Evans' website...for a small fee.

I encourage you to read anything that Richard Paul Evans has written. Inspiring.

REMINDER: Michael Vey: Prisoner of Cell 25, also written by Richard Paul Evans (the first in this new young adult series), will be released August 9!

24-26: Spring Rain, Book of Unholy Mishief, & Remarkable Creatures

2011-06-26T14:25:00.002-05:00

This past week or so, I read three incredible novels, amazingly, all dealt with the topic of faith and the unknown. Which that is what faith is all about, right? The platform on which the unknown builds.

Spring Rain by Gayle Roper

This book found me at one of our local bookstores in a section of books marked down to fifty cents. I am grateful.

Spring Rain caught me attention because one of the characters has AIDS. I cannot remember reading a book that deals with this topic; thus, I was hooked and interested in how a Christian writer would approach this topic...by the way the character does die, and the resolution is interesting.

Spring Rain is also about character Leigh and her son Billy and the mystery and circumstances surrounding their lives. A fairly quick read, this one is definitely "chick lit," something that I very much enjoy after an intense week.

I appreciate how the author dealt with the many issues within this novel.

The Book of Unholy Mischief by Elle Newmark

Set in Venice at the beginning of the Renaissance (1498), The Book of Unholy Mischief or The Chef's Apprentice tells the story of Luciano, an orphaned beggar, who obtains the favor of Chef Ferrero and becomes his apprentice, as he continues to hunt for the book of which everyone is desperately seeking, to the extent that some even torture and kill. Luciano is a nosey yet determined young man, who proves that perseverance does pay.

I took this novel with me to the National Beta Club Convention. On our way home, one of the young ladies asked if she could begin reading this novel...and she was hooked. Every so often, I would hear her say, "This is so good."

I purchased this novel well over a year ago at the recommendation of one of the blogs I follow (sorry! I really wish I could remember which one!), and the novel sat and waited for me to select it as my next read. To my regret, I wish I had read it much earlier so that I could have recommended it to my students last year, for I can name several who would have greatly enjoyed reading this one.

This novel dealt, too, with Christian issues, some of which I agreed; some of which I did not. This is a novel I would love to read with a group and have discussions throughout.

Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier

A friend/peer on a state-level committee recently recommended this read. After our meeting that evening, I checked this one out on the Internet and then bought four of this author's novels. Then yesterday afternoon, after returning from a week on the road, I sit down with novel and began to read and continued to read until I could no longer stay awake and then finished it when I awoke this morning. Yes, it's that good!

Remarkable Creatures, a work of historical fiction (early to mid-1800's) and a New York Times bestseller, relates the life and findings Mary Anning, who had the "eye" for finding fossils of long-ago and now extinct, creatures, and her friend/mentor Elizabeth Philpot, also a fish fossil hunter.

What probably intrigued me the most was the questioning by Elizabeth Philpot of how these extinct creatures fit into the stories of the Bible and the answers she found as she matured, answers to which I happen to agree.

Please consider reading these novels!

23: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

2011-06-17T21:35:00.001-05:00

Just finished reading Richard Paul Evan's new young adult series Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25. Yes, you will like this novel...whether you are male, female, student, or teacher.

This series begins the adventures of the Electroclan, a group of thirteen who were electrified as babies: Michael, Taylor, and eleven others, all who have just a bit different skill or talent. Then, there are the normal ones: Ostin, Jack, and Wade.

Michael, the main character, has Tourettes, which is tremendous trait for an author to place on a character. A character, one with a disability, who overcomes. Since Michael's story is told in first-person, the reader enters the brain, the emotions, the mental struggles of this character and "feels" with the character. (Taylor's story is told in third-person...good example of point of view...just a note to self, the teacher.) :)

As a teacher, I am excited about the use of this novel as a read-aloud within my thematic units that I am continuing to create, for I believe it will fit nicely within my Pioneer and Survivor units. Cool!

Yes, you may pre-order this novel here at Amazon!

22: The 360 Degree Leader

2011-06-17T14:05:00.002-05:00

John C. Maxwell's book The 360 Degree Leader lives up to its subtitle...Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization. Full of anecdotes and quotes, lists and bullets, the book reads quickly.

Throughout this book, I annotated much, as what I read either affirmed or challenged who I am at this moment in my life. At one point, I had an Epiphany of sorts...may read about that here.

The 360 Degree Leader should be read by all leaders: leader-want-to-be's and those already there at the top of the leadership ladder.

An extensive writer, Maxwell has written a number of books on his passion: leadership. Please consider checking out these free resources.

21: The Sun Also Rises

2011-06-08T23:55:00.000-05:00

Embarrassingly, I had never read this novel before, which is one reason why I chose it as one of my reads for Dana Huff's Book Challenge Books I Wish I Had Read in High School.

My husband loves Hemingway. Let's just say, I grew to appreciate the storyline and his style. Lots of dialogue. A tad bit stream of consciousness. Man stories. Man desires.

As an English teacher, I did appreciate the symbolism of the bulls and the bull fighting. Really think the story was told on two levels.

Will I read Hemingway again? Of course! As that English teacher, I, again, am embarrassed to admit that I have read so little of Hemingway's works.

20: Heroes of the Valley

2011-06-08T23:46:00.000-05:00

Jonathan Stroud, author Heroes of the Valley, creates a fantasy world involving trolls and, well, heroes during the medieval time.

I ordered this novel sometime ago for my classroom and picked it up last week as I planned how to spend time during an extended bus ride.

Young Halli, age 15, quickly becomes a favorite because of his not being a favorite in the novel. The reader's loyalty, though, proves true as Halli matures and helps lead his people to overcome the many obstacles his house (one of twelve in this valley).

Yes, I will recommend this novel to my students in the fall...especially boys who enjoy fantasy.

17-19: The Walk, Wicked, Magyck

2011-05-24T15:28:00.000-05:00

Here's an update on the last three novels I have read...

The Walk by Richard Paul Evans is a wonderful novel. The first in a series about a man's walk across the United States after experiencing several personal catastrophes. So good, I bought the next novel in this series, and it now sits, waiting patiently for summer to arrive when I will have ample time to read what I know will be an excellent read. (Other novels by Richard Paul Evans...The Christmas Box, Timepiece, The Letter, The Locket and more.)
ALSO, I just learned about a new young adult series entitled Michael Vey : The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans. More about that here...yes, please help me spread the word!
Wicked by Gregory Maguire was recommended by a student who, at that time, was reading the second in this trilogy. This novel brings to life the Wicked Witch of the West...or, at least, Maguire's version of it. (NOTE: I expected this novel to be a young adult read. No. Caution: it does contain adult content.) The story, though, is interesting. Interesting enough that I ordered the second in the series: Son of a Witch (already own A Lion Among Men, the third novel in this series). Reading Guide may be found here.
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, was a name that my daughter recognized...as she and the rest of her Select Choir are performing it this Thursday night at their concert. Probably a mom-thing, but I thought that was interesting!
Elphaba is a character that held my sympathy, while I kept hoping more for her. This novel certainly provided a different perspective of Oz than the one I had previously held!
Magyck by Angie Sage is a novel that I bought two of...one for me and one for my daughter, for we had grand intentions of reading it together. But I could not wait for her! This novel, the first in a series of seven (maybe for Septimus, who is the seventh son of a seventh son?), held my attention much like the Harry Potter series did. AND, yes, I have already ordered the next in the series (and am awaiting its arrival!)

Have you read any of these novels? Please let me know your thoughts! Happy reading!

#16: House Rules

2011-03-25T18:48:00.000-05:00

Jodi Picoult does it again...writes another can't-wait-to-get-to-the-next-page novel. House Rules educated me about Asperger's Syndrome and truly changed my perspective about the effects of this disease on all those involved in caring for such special needs persons.

Picoult tells the story in first-person through the various main characters in her novel....Jacob, his mother, his brother, his lawyer, the police detective investigating the murder of which Jacob has been accused.

As I read, I felt the frustrations of all these characters as they deal with a legal system not designed to care for special circumstances. Anger. Disappointment. Sadness.

Then, the twist at the end. DO NOT READ THE END OF THIS NOVEL FIRST. Just in case you are tempted. Resist!

#11-15: Selections by Colleen Coble

2011-03-25T10:36:00.000-05:00

Spring Break arrived! On Friday evening I picked up the next novel in one of Christan author Colleen Coble's series and began to read...until I had read four of her novels!

Lonestar Secrets
Lonestar Homecoming
The Lightkeeper's Daughter
Anathema

I enjoy Coble's writing style and the messages she embeds within her novels: strong women taking stands.

Light reads, these novels become an evening's entertainment...or a great way to wake up for a non-morning person such as myself. These novels proved to be a great way to relax after a very intense third-nine-weeks of work.

#10 C. S. Lewis: Creator of Narnia (Heroes of the Faith)

2011-03-25T10:19:00.000-05:00

A brilliant man! I read this biography about the life of C.S. Lewis in preparation for a presentation I was doing at church as background for watching movie the The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, combining two of my passions: church and teaching. (I almost felt sneaky in church teaching our attendees what an allegory is!)

A quick, easy read that I read in one day (just did not want to put it down!), I found myself mesmerized by this man's initial struggle with faith and then the stand he took for his faith.

As I read, I annotated the book with tidbits that I shared with my church family and other examples to share with my students.

This is one those books that I bought some time ago and it sat and waited...and waited...on me to choose it as my next read. My only regret? It sat too long!
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Side note: As I was looking for the above book cover, I found this one...look familiar?

#9: When the Lion Feeds

2011-02-19T13:38:00.000-06:00

Wilbur Smith's When the Lion Feeds, the first in a series and set in Africa, begins the saga of twin Sean Courtney and the Courtney family.

'Something always dies when the lion feeds and yet there is meat for those that follow him.' The lion is Sean, hero of this tremendous drama of the men who took possession of South Africa in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. (Wilbur Smith Website)

Smith's writing style contains enough detail to inform the reader about this interesting setting and capture the interest of the audience without overpowering the senses, thus, resulting in a very pleasant read about a continent that I have much to learn.

He creates characters in the same manner, offering details that places the reader right into the psyche of the character. I liked them. I mourned them.

One feature that I appreciated was Smith's use of foreshadowing. The hook that kept me reading. The results: sometimes pleasant, sometimes not.

Interestingly, my high school principal (from 25 years ago!) recommended this novel...during a Facebook book discussion of The Poisonwood Bible, in what, I thought, was an interesting blend of the past, present, and future.
As the discussion progressed, I reviewed this novel online and then immediately purchased the novel online. And, yes, I will now purchase the next novel in the series, The Sound of Thunder.

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Interested in reading an excerpt of this novel? Go here.

478 Pages

#8: Fahrenheit 451

2011-02-09T22:54:00.004-06:00

Reading Ray Bradbury's thriller renewed the desire within me to teach a class novel, a novel that annotated much as I read. Rich in so many topics. Fahrenheit 451 tells the mental struggle of Guy Montag, a fireman whose job it is to start fires, fires that burn books and help to keep a people suppressed and oppressed.

Consider this quote:

With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word `intellectual,’ of course, became the swear word it deserved to be.

Within an academic setting, who would this quote not address?

As I read, my mind continued to web out to the movie The Book of Eli, the message of which in both is similar, Montag and Eli both searching for ways to preserve the truth (as a Christian, I, of course, find it interesting that both's missions are to preserve the Bible). The parallels are phenomenal.

NOTE: Here author Gary Whitta blogs about the release of The Book of Eli and works in progress.

Guy Montag's message, though, is one of hope, illustrating that the spirit of mankind, while often oppressed, cannot be suppressed, cannot be stifled.

Yes, the desire to teach this novel burns within me...

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165 Pages
Book Challenge: Books I Wish I Had Read in High School

#7: The Poisonwood Bible

2011-02-05T12:36:00.001-06:00

Barbara Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, intense, interesting, lingering, relates the narrative of a wife and her four daughters...through their voices...after the husband/father Nathan Price insisted they travel as missionaries to the Congo.

Spanning about 30 years, this novel introduced this reader to a land to which I had not encountered (in a literary sense). I learned much about Africa, the conflicts within. Please know as you read this novel, that Africa is a dominant character. It may not have its own chapter headings, but Africa affects one and all. For better. For worse.

Most interesting? The change in my perceptions as I experienced the effects that America's help often has on the citizens of such needy countries. Through the experiences of these five female, I became disillusioned, disgusted. I developed a greater appreciation for cultures, realizing that I do not have to understand differences to appreciate them.

I read this novel over a span of about six weeks, putting it down to read six other novels, always coming back to it, wanting to know what the outcomes would be for these ladies and Nathan Price.

I definitely recommend this novel. Please take the time to read it. The Poisonwood Bible ranks with such novels as A Thousand Splendid Suns, Kite Runner, and Th1rteen R3asons Why. They linger with you. They affect you. They change you.

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Stars: 5
Pages: 543
Book Challenge: #1 for Dana Huff's Books I Wish I Had Read in High School But Didn't

#6: Lonestar Sanctuary

2011-02-05T10:17:00.003-06:00

This novel I bought one afternoon, thinking I would read it that very evening, which I did. A writer of christian books, author Colleen Coble relieved me of my daily concerns and responsiblities as I entered the life of Allie Siders and her five-year-old daughter who no longer speaks as they literally retun to the title of this novel Lonestar Sanctuary.

Not pushy in her beliefs, just enouraging in the subtle message, Colleen Coble reminds us that life is real, that God exists and is present in all our trials and tribulations...then, of course, we are rewarded when we get the "hunks" in our lives! Sorry to spoil the ending...Allie gets her guy!

Oh, no! Oh, yes! Just visited the author's site and discovered that Lonestar Sanctuary is the first in a series! I do appreciate a good series!

If you enjoy "chick," Christian-based novels, please consider reading this one!

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308 Pages

5: The Sorceress

2011-01-22T11:29:00.002-06:00

Michael Scott's series The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flamel proceeds with The Sorceress...and I remained hooked! (Wishing I had book four!)

Sophie and Josh, the twins who are destined to save the world (maybe?), and several other main characters, including Nicholas and Perenelle Flamel and others we meet in this novel (Shakespeare! Yes, the Bard!), continue their epic adventures.

PAUSE: This series makes me tired. These people, creatures (monsters?), never get a break! Three novels and only a week has passed! Ah, but not tired enough to quit, to lay the novel aside, for my senses are being awakened. A THOUGHT: I wonder if this term awakening might somehow connect to Kate Chopin's novel The Awakening. (this book is on my to-read list for one of my book challenges).
Did I mention that Shakespeare...as in the master writer who wrote Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Macbeth...and many others...is a character in this novel? Yes! I do truly love Scott's explanation of historical occurrences in this series. (No, I do not agree with them, as in the literal sense, but I sure appreciate them in the fantastical sense.) Very interesting character is Shakespeare!

This week, one of my students questioned me about the cover. The cover! I have been so busy reading that I had not taken the time to analyze the covers. Please remember to do so when you begin this series...please say when and not if.

Promise you...this series you will enjoy!

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483 pages
Stars: 5

4: Change of Heart

2011-01-17T13:47:00.000-06:00

Shari Maurer's Change of Heart spoke to my heart. The novel relates the progress of main character Emmi, a sixteen-year-old athlete, who learns she must have a heart transplant.

Having lived the role of Emmi's mom (doctors once told me that my daughter Holly would have to have a heart/lung transplant), I could so empathize and now more appreciate our NOT having to ride that part of the roller coaster that families with such special children often experience.

This novel is a great example of a rite of passage, for Emmi, as one can imagine, makes choices and learns much about herself, her friends, and her family...therein lies the layers of the meaning of the title.

The author, through the pages of this novel, brings to life issues (loyalty, BFF's, betrayal, annoying parents and younger siblings and the eternal of love of those very same family members, the true meaning of life), with which many young adults face...a good read for all young adults, both male and female, a read with a detailed pace that keeps one caught up many emotions...all the while wondering: will a heart arrive in time to save Emmi?

I added this author's blog to my Google Reader and very much look forward to reading her next young adult novel. :)

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Page Count: 290 Pages
Stars: 5
Book Challenge: What's in a Name (#4...maybe?)

3: The Magician

2011-01-16T21:37:00.000-06:00

I completed a quick read of Michael Scott's second novel of the The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series by completing The Magician in two days. I really am enjoying this series.

Part of the hook continues to be Scott's explanation for all the wonders of the world and other justifications. They make me smile! :) His use of unanswered questions also continues to appeal to me. As much as I want the answers, I am going to wait, hold off on novel three. Why? These novels are jam-packed with action. After fighting the enemy for two days, one just needs a mind-break! Plus, there are just so many novels in this series, and I do not want to complete them too soon! Yes, it's much like dangling a carrot before my very own literary nose!

Again, I encourage you to begin this series and meet the characters: Josh, Sophie, Flamel, Perenelle, Joan of Arc (yes, you read that correctly!), and many others. Very interesting! In glancing at novel three, I saw Shakespeare's name mentioned much...so this one will not wait long on me to read!

Read...yes, please read this series!

2. The Alchemyst

2011-01-15T09:26:00.001-06:00

Michael Scott's series The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, thus far, is wonderful! I just completed the first of six in this series, The Alchemyst, and immediately picked up the next one (and purchased the third one last night...see book purchase #6 in my book buys at the right.)

Here are my thoughts that I posted at Treasure Chest of Thoughts midway through the novel:

My advice for today: listen to your students when they recommend novels. I try to do this…especially when a boy student recommends one. Maybe that sounds stereotypical, but, for the most part, females appreciate reading more than males…have you found this to be true?

So when William repeatedly stopped by my desk to recommend and to see if I had purchased the novels in the Nicholas Flamel series, I visited Half.com and bought the first two novels in what will be a series of six novels. Then, I let them set on my shelves for a few weeks, waiting on me…until yesterday, I picked up the first one, The Alchemyst, and now I, too, am hooked!

Interesting tidbits about this series:

The characters are based on real historical figures. Josh, one of the main characters, realized this before I, and googled one of the characters names. Then last night when I was recommending this series to a family friend, she asked, “Where have I have I heard the name Nicholas Flamel before?” THEN, I googled the name. True! Michael Scott did base the characters on historical figures.
Based on the theory behind this series, Scott has interesting rationales for decisions made by Shakespeare, Mary Shelley, and historical time periods. The first two are explanations for character creations…and those actually made me smile. :) Now, I am truly hooked, turning page after page watching for another such explanation! NOTE: Please know I do not agree with the monkey rationale.
Interested in learning more? I was, so I visited this link to the Michael Scott’s websit for all things Nicholas Flamel.

Please consider reading this series. I have not felt this same sort of excitement about a series since I read the Harry Potter series.

ANOTHER NOTE about series: While I enjoyed the Twilight series, the City of Bones is truly my favorite between the two series, and book four in this series is being released in the spring.

Today, we receive the gift of Snow Day #2. While I will enjoy time with the family, I do feel compelled to help Nicholas Flamel save the world. Wish me luck!

NOTE THREE: Yes, I will be purchasing the next two novels in this series and sharing novel four with William, so he, too, can read all the latest in the world of Nicholas Flamel. I want that boy to continue reading and recommending good reads to others!

I do enjoy reading a good series, watching the writer develop, witnessing the growth of the characters. Do you enjoy reading series? Which one is your favorite?

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369 pages

1: Salting Roses

2011-01-06T14:57:00.005-06:00

Salting Roses, my first read for 2011, was an enjoyable read...for two main reasons:

I really liked author Lorelle Marinello's characters...all of them: Gracie, Art, Ben, Sam, Claire. All different, all bonded together because of main character Gracie, who discovers that she was abandoned as a baby on Ben's porch, who later discovers that she is the missing heiress to the family fortune, a fortune to which she desperately does NOT want.
Loved the title...and its meaning. Very interesting!

Marinello's debut novel was a quick read, one that I enjoyed. Yes, I will watch for more southern fiction from this author! Of course, I cannot share much about this as it would give too much away. This is part of the appeal of the novel, for I continued reading searching for the meaning of that very unique title.

336 pages
Challenge: Gillmore - More Reads in 2011

Reflecting on 2010

2010-12-31T14:48:00.002-06:00

First let me say...I read more than this blog reflects! I just did not do a good job updating here...that will change next year...as in tomorrow!

I have excuses as to why I got behind...and they are just that, excuses. At the time, those excuses seemed justified. Stress filled my mind too much.

So, selfishly, I am resolving that 2011 will be more about me, which means more family time, more reading time, more writing time.

Here's a list of some of the novels that I read this fall...in no certain order...

Beastly
Mockingjay
The House of Thunder
The Dark Tide
Love Letters from Ladybug Farm
Forever Odd
Dead Until Dark
Frankenstein
My Antonia
The Forgotten Garden
The Girl Who Played with Fire

This Christmas, I read...

Finding Noel
Holiday Magic
5 of the 9 short stories in A Prairie Christmas Collection

With 17 books about which I previously posted, this brings my total to 29+...a bit more than one book every two weeks. Hummmm...not the best, but better than having read only 26. Yes, my glass is half full!

Before I Fall

2010-09-11T23:52:00.003-05:00

Lauren Oliver's Before I Fall intrigued me. From page one, the main character announces she will die. Therefore, you assume that you will spend one day with her. And you do, or do you?

For most of this read, I wanted to close the cover and not pick it back up, for I did not like the main character, nor her friends. If they are typical high school girls, then, well...oh, my.

So why did I keep reading it? Two reasons: 1) Peer Lisa Huff had loaned me the novel, and I was reading it based on her recommendation. 2) I am reading along with my students, and I had a novel due last Tuesday! Had to keep reading!

This novel reminded me of Jay Asher's Th1rteen R3asons Why and Khaled Housseni's A Thousand Splendid Suns, two of my favorite novels. Not because I liked them, for the content was harsh, but because of the impact of the novel on who I am...or was. Novels such as these change the reader. You close the back cover thinking I grew as a person; my awareness grew of the conditions surrounding these three main characters. I am not the person I was before I began the novel.

Therein, lies the success of the novel. Read Before I Fall, knowing that you will fall with the main character several times but that in the end, you will stand a stronger character for having read the pages of the journey.

Also posted at English 11 Cafe.

Summer 2010

2010-09-11T23:50:00.003-05:00

Here are some of the novels I read this summer:

The Outlander
Odd Thomas
Fern Michael's The Sisterhood Series, books 1-6...so far.

Will add to this list...

Behind!

2010-05-15T17:50:00.002-05:00

Need to catch my reading list up...

For now, though, I just completed The Adoration of Jenna Fox. On Monday, I will share this book with my students and will no doubt loan out this one.

Set in the future (I hope!) this book captured by attention as I was pulled into the "lostness" of this Jenna...or should I say Jenna #2? That's right, you, too, will have to read on to find out why I give her that number.

I empathized with the parents, for I came to the same point they did one night when we all thought my daughter might die. Believing as I do (as does Lily, the grandmother), life beyond this one is not a bad thing. Thankfully, God through the minds and hands of doctors gave my Holly back to me...

This novel will stir your ethical questions about scientists and how far should they really go...read on!

#6-7: Ladybug Farm

2010-01-31T08:16:00.003-06:00

Written by Donna Ball, these latest two reads A Year on Ladybug Farm and At Home on Ladybug Farm were ones that quietened by spirit, for they were about three ladies in their 50's who purchase and move into a historical home and soon adopt others, people and animals alike, to share this adventure with them.

No science-fiction characters. No romance. Just a novel about life. A life into which I could easily insert myself.

# 5: Tempted (House of Night)

2010-01-30T08:26:00.000-06:00

Sixth in a series of nine, P.C. and Kristin Cast's latest novel Tempted continues the epic journey of Zoey Redbird into the world of vampires.

I must say...Zoey and her friends make me tired! The entirety of this series has taken place within a month or two. This kids are going to burn out!

Yet, when I begin one, I want to read until the end to determine how this next grand adventure resolves itself.

Did you note from my intro that more novels are to published? Three more!

#4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

2010-01-17T09:22:00.004-06:00

Interested in learning more the Greek gods and goddesses? This novel...soon to be released on the big screen...is, well...very good! More to come...

#3: Witch and Wizard

2010-01-17T09:19:00.001-06:00

James Patterson does it again! This novel begins a new series featuring brother and sister...more to come!

#2: City of Bones

2010-01-17T09:17:00.003-06:00

The third in The Moral Instrument Series, City of Glass continues (and finalizes?) the journey of Clary and her friends.

More to come....

#1: Deliah's Crossing

2010-01-17T09:15:00.001-06:00

Writting by V.C. Andrews, Deliah's Crossing begins the journey of a young Mexican girl....more to come!

#48-52: Christmas Combo of Novels ~ 2009

2010-01-02T17:27:00.004-06:00

Over Christmas, I read a montage of fiction books...all for my pure reading entertainment.

#48: Daughters of Lancaster County: The Storekeeper's Daughter

I completed the first of the three in this series...am currently reading novel two The Quilter's Daughter. I enjoy books about the ways of the Amish.

#49: I, Alex Cross

If only James Patterson would write more quickly...and thanks to my mother-in-law for loaning me this one and for sharing an interest in books with me! Yes, a good read for those followers of Alex Cross.

#50: The Perfect Christmas

My daughter Holly bought Debbie Macomber's new Christmas novel for me for Christmas...she even signed it...my daughter, that is.

#51: The Mortal Instruments Series: City of Bones

With this novel, I began another vampire...and other sorts of persons...series...and quickly became hooked. Shhh...yes, I like this series even better than the Twilight series!

#52: The Mortal Instruments Series: City of Ashes

Upon finishing this novel, I searched my classroom and our high school library over Christmas for the third novel, hoping to complete this series in 2009, but quickly found all copies were checked out, testifying to the validity of my claim that this is a well-liked series. Now hoping that a copy is quickly checked in after the break!

Would love to have read more, both over Christmas Break and throughout 2009...but other projects gained precidence...now looking forward to a great year of reading in 2010.

Enjoy...and Happy New Year!

#47 How Starbucks Saved My Life

2010-01-02T16:51:00.002-06:00

Nonfiction, How Starbucks Saved My Life relates the energy and synergy of Michael Gates Gill, who fell from power and glory and lived to tell the story of his climb back to success...thanks to Starbucks.

This book I purchased at the recommendation of peer Jeanne Roepcke and would now recommend as a reminder to us all that we can overcome...

#46: Speak

2009-11-16T09:23:00.004-06:00

YOU should read this book...as in, everyone should read Laurie Halse Anderson's novel Speak, written in such a voice that everyone can hear what the main character Melinda is saying, shouting...in such a silent way.

About a young girl raped at a party, this novel pulls at your emotional strings, with relief from not coming until the very last page...just like I like! As much as I like to mentally conclude a novel before the last page, I also appreciate an author who can keep me hooked, especially with unexpected twists.

I assigned this novel to my 11th grade English students while we were studying The Bullying Mentality unit. While this may seem like a novel for girls, the message is strong for any reader...male or female.

This is one of those novels when asked if you liked it...you have to pause before saying, "Yes," for the message between the lines of the story reminds us all to be more conscious of those who need to "speak."

Please read this novel.

#45: "Y" City

2009-11-15T07:26:00.003-06:00

A friend loaned me this novel. Before reading half of it, I purchased my own copy. "Y" City, set in the real town of Y City, Arkansas, is written by author Wade Rivers, also from Arkansas. I just have this thing about supporting Arkansas authors, some sort of kinship there, maybe? But I digress...

Based on a character who has been accused of killing his employer (hint: relationship actually took a romantic turn), the novel, while only spanning a time period of about 24 hours, takes its reader on an emotional journey into the mind of several characters, in particular Harley (the accused) and Hollis (the one sworn to protect the innocent).

A native of Arkansas and one who lived in Hot Springs for two years (a mere 68 miles from Y City...and, no, I had never heard of Y City before reading this novel!), I was quick to note locations and names of note, just part of the appeal to me as a reader. Had many opportunities for text-to-me connections!

I appreciated this author's writing style, highlighting various passages as I read to share with my students as I present models of what "good" writing might look. Just another reason I purchased my own copy of this novel....so I could really make it mine as I annotated within the book.

A NOTE: good editors are a grand thing! Did note a few misspellings and puntuations errors. This seems to happen in first editions of first books...maybe in the race to publish, one gets anxious? (By the way that is the voice of experience commenting on that last sentence!) Another teachable moment for the classroom, though.

If you are one who enjoys a good "who did it," then this is a good read for you.

#43-44: James Patterson Duo

2009-11-01T15:53:00.003-06:00

It had been a while, so I just had to read some James Patterson!

Cross Country: This one continues the saga of Alex Cross.
Swimsuit: A good one to read on Halloween! Scary!

And, yes, I recommend these novels!

#42: Catching Fire

2009-11-01T14:50:00.003-06:00

RIP Challenge Novel #4

Suzanne Collins' much-awaited sequel to The Hunger Games...Catching Fire...was a good read.

Katniss and friends must once again participate in the Hunger Games, a cruel and ultimate example of bullying. Throughout this novel, we witness Katniss's growth as a leader and increased compassion for others, while living a facade that both protects her people and increases the rebellion within the districts.

With that said, I do have a problem with all the death, although I know that this is part of Collins' message: that with oppression comes suppression, suppression through death. Or maybe the message is that survival's instinct remains to that very moment of death?

Is this a message that is appropriate for our young adults? While I know they are enamored with Collins' tale, I suppose the optimist in me wants to have to deal with less oppression, suppression, and depression. Maybe?

Let's see what one of these young adults have to say about Catching Fire. Here is Crist's review of this novel that he wrote for a book review for my class.

#41: The Dante Club

2009-11-01T14:40:00.004-06:00

RIP Challenge Novel #3

Matthew Pearl's The Dante Club takes his readers on a journey into the historical land of the poets and Dante Club members and Harvard professors Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, James Russell Lowell, and publisher J. T. Fields, who all become criminal investigators as various murders begin to take place that mimic Dante's Inferno.

What I appreciate the most about this piece of historical fiction is that I really learned something! Really.

Stylistically, this novel is written on a more advanced level than the young adult fiction of current times. While definitely not impossible for my students to read, this novel does take time to absorb, but it is time-well spent.

Pearl is the author The Poe Shadow (this will be my next read by him) and The Last Dickens...maybe a read for Christmas?

#40: Hunted (House of Night #5)

2009-09-07T18:17:00.004-05:00

RIP Challenge Novel #2

This novel...well, I am still reading the series because my young adult students are reading them. While I really enjoyed the first two or three novels in The House of Night Series, I quickly began doubting the "validity" of such a fantasy...so much happens...it just cannot be real.

Oh, that's right! This is fantasy! But still...I wish the authors PC Cast and Kristen Cast would allow the characters to rest, to allow some time to pass between the major battles these young heroines and heroes are winning.

Zoey Redbird and her friends bite into (yes, that pun was intended) another adventure as the continue their year of schooling at the House of Night.

Please click here to read or listen to chapter one of this novel...enjoy!

#39: The Thirteenth Tale

2009-09-07T18:15:00.003-05:00

RIP Challenge Novel #1

Twisted! I loved this novel! Diane Setterfield's debut novel The Thirteenth Tale was a great one to read to begin the RIP Challenge as it takes the reader on a journey over a span of time into the lives of Ms. Winter, who has commissioned Margaret Lea to write her life story.

I like to pride myself on determining a novel's end about midway through...but not this one. Needless, to say I was hooked!

Don't wait for the next RIP Challenge to read this...read it now! A great story!

Book Glutton: An Online Read

2009-08-30T15:27:00.000-05:00

#38: A Whole New Mind

2009-08-17T22:48:00.002-05:00

Draft...in progress!

This book offered a new perspective, a scary perspective. Because of this book, I fear for my children's future careers. That is...unless they want to move to India. Every mother should fear the term outsourcing.

Daniel Pink writes a thought-provoking book, one that I read with peers as a part of our 21 CLC team this summer. This study concluded with a Skyped Q & A with Daniel Pink, himself, who, by the way, writes in a very normal-looking room within his house. (Funny how we think such people might just live in houses of gold and have an abundance of staff taking care of their every little need, including sharpening their pencils...wait, that example is pre-digital world!)

Back to the topic...

#35-37: House of Night Books 2-4

2009-08-15T19:35:00.003-05:00

The vampire saga continues...just wish I had number 5.

This week (between working on lesson plans, attending workshops, visiting with family, working at church, and, oh, yes, recuperating), I have read the next three books in this series (thanks to their arrival from half.com!)

Teenagers, especially females, will like this series, set in a high school scene. Full of action...well, actually, non-stop action, the reader is never bored as Zoey Redbird leads her team through many adventures as they either protect themselves or others in their first few months in the House of Night.

While some content may be a bit risque and some language could have been changed or even left out, I am not so prudish as to think our young adults are not exposed to such topics; just wish it were not so (okay, that was the mother in me that wrote those previous two lines!).

For a fun read, an interesting escape from the world of normalcy, spend some time with Zoey and her friends.

#34: The Last Lecture

2009-08-08T23:24:00.004-05:00

Draft...in progress

Awesome! Inspiring! Role-model for us all.

Randy's Pausch's The Last Lecture contains his last thoughts on many topics through last few months of life.

Tear-Cherker Alert: I am not a cryer; I do not cry at movies nor when I read sappy parts within novels, but this one brought me to tears.

Feeling unhappy with life, with your life, with other people's lives? Read this little book for a life-changing perspective.

#33: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts...

2009-08-07T13:25:00.003-05:00

DRAFT...work in progress!

Written by Will Richardson, a leading tech-tool user, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms is a book full of tips and tricks, a book I would have appreciated even more had I read it a year and a half ago as I began my Web 2.0 journey.

As with any good literature, though, one can always glean even more nuggets, and that is what I did. I reviewed blogs, wikis, RSS, and Flickr and learned even more, especially about RSS and Flickr, both of which I have, neither of which I utilize to their fullest.

Podcasts...that one I learned a lot about, that one I hope to really utilize within my 1:1 laptop classroom.

#32: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

2009-08-04T10:57:00.003-05:00

Probably the best book I have read this summer. PLEASE read this book. All English 11 teachers should read this one. Definitely.

Katherine Howe tells the story of Connie Goodwin, a Harvard doctoral student, who spends a summer in her grandmother's primitive house (in hopes of getting it ready to sell); instead, she becomes involved in research that takes her on a journey into the lives of those accused of witchcraft during Salem witch trials.

This insight into the accused is quiet interesting and eye-opening....oh, the cruelty that lasted for months.

Howe is a grand writer...just go ahead and plan a day for reading or plan to stay up late finishing this one! Her characters are real (really...shhhhh! even the witches...or physicks as they may be called), her setting is alive, and she showed me through this novel one of the best reasons for always writing. Interested in hearing more about this? Then please visit my blog here.

Besides an awesome use of vocabulary (I really like that for our upper level readers), she illustrated through this novel her avid knowledge as a researcher and portrayed this in such a great narrative format.

I wish I could recommend another novel by this author, but this one is her first. And a very good first one, it is!

You may follow Katherine Howe on Twitter by clicking here.

#31: The Hunger Games

2009-08-04T10:37:00.004-05:00

An awesome novel. The first in a series. CAN NOT WAIT for the next installment!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a great young-adult read. Collins is also the author of the Underland Chronicles, which began with Gregor the Overlander. I received a free copy of this novel (Thanks, Scholastic!), lent it to a student who loved it, have seen various reviews of this novel listed on other readers’ book lists, and, must say, that I enjoyed this novel...very much. Well, if you are supposed to enjoy a novel about kids killing kids…

Each year two kids are chosen to fight until death in what is call the Hunger Games. Main character Katniss Everdeen steps and volunteers to take the place of her sister after her sister's name is drawn. This begins a surreal journey...one that reminds me of short story that used to be in my 10th grade literature books entitled "The Most Dangerous Game," except I like this novel even better!

A novel that could definitely be included in my anti-bullying unit, a novel that kids are going to truly enjoy...maybe even more than some other popular series? Read in someone's comments on a blog post (sorry...cannot remember whose blog) that most of the respondents there feel this series will surpass The Twilight series. I agree.

Lots of good info here at Scholastic that students would love as they read this novel. This series continues with Catching Fire, being released September 1. Need to get that one pre-ordered!

#30: Marked

2009-08-01T17:46:00.003-05:00

I like Zoey Redbird...even better than Bella. Zoey, too, is a vampire, one who has just been marked and must now go through the change.

Authors P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (mom and daughter duo - interesting!)begins thier House of Night series with Marked (followed by Betrayed...which is in the mail to me as I write this post).

Why will I complete this series quicker than I did The Twilight series?

NOT because of the too adult-like, yes, sometimes inappropriate content. (Why do young adult authors feel they must put in this content? While I do know such things occur, an author almost seems to promote such activities by displaying such actions in words.) But I digress...

MAYBE it's because I like these characters more? Not sure. Still a lot of fantastical events going
on. MAYBE because Zoey takes a stand for what she believes and affirms her faith by making a difference? Maybe.

DEFINITELY because I like these vampires better than the way in which Stephanie Meyer's portrays hers. Yes. Definitely.
A quick read, I fulfilled my commitment to my eighth grade girls in last semester's Lit Lab class who were devouring these books. Yes. I can see why.

#29: Escape

2009-08-01T17:44:00.003-05:00

A true-to-life story. Horrific. Inspiring.

Carolyn Jessop, raised in an "ultra-fundamentalist American religious sect," narrates her life journey through an arranged marriage, her escape from this marriage, and her recovery (still in progress) from this marriage...yes, one arranged by her parents.

This autobiography I purchased as a side-note. If one purchases a book at half.com, then additional books bought from the same seller saves the buyee (me) money on shipping...so as I am perusing the seller of this book's store, I came across Escape. (Might check out this site; have bought several hardback novels here for $.75...yes, cheap!)

The ultimate story of survival, bullying, true-inner spirit, courage, horror, degradation, recovery....this woman endured it all and came out with a healthy mind still in tack...and a message for all females in bondage, whether physical or mental. Cults, sects...whatever name you want to give such groups (I, for one, do not like to associate the term religion with such organized bodies)...are simply bullying units. Yes, I hope you can sense the complete distaste I still feel towards the group discussed within this book!

Storylines, such as this, interest me, for I, who live a very comfortable, secure, middle-class life, literally shudder to think that such life-styles can occur within our good ol' United States of America. They do.

Thus, I salute Carolyn Jessop for telling her story, a story which eventually resulted in some being "freed" and others brought to justice. Way to go, girlfriend!

#28: The Lovely Bones

2009-07-06T18:11:00.003-05:00

I may never let my daughter out of my sight again! The Lovely Bones reminds the reader again of the injustice that occurs even more often than it did in the '70's, the setting of this novel.

Told from the perspective of a 14-year-old, who was raped and murdered and now lives in her heaven, this narrative will stir your soul, your heart strings, and possibly even your tear glands.

While I am not sure that I agree with author Alice Sebold's view of heaven, I do agree that Heaven will be to each of us what we need it to be. For Susie, the murdered daughter, sister, friend, Heaven is her Heaven.

Caution to the reader: do not skip any words. Sebold drops clues...quietly foreshadows upcoming revelations, but if you missed the clue, your appreciation of this author will not be as great as it could be.

#27: The Good Earth

2009-06-29T20:45:00.004-05:00

My first read by author Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth proved to be an interesting and eager-page-turning novel. To be honest, I selected this one as one of my summer reads because it's just one of those novels I felt I needed to add to my "read" list.

I learned so much about the Chinese culture...for all social classes. It was an interesting journey that spanned the life of main character Wang: a journey that supports the theme "Life is a cycle, a circle." Buck mastered her characters, as she developed them, as we watched the grow, both in age and through the battles of life.

Buck portrayed the country in which she lived for forty years quite realistically. Thus, I cannot say that I enjoyed all that I, as the reader, experienced as I met these characters, but I did get to know them. For instance, Wang's wife Olan is a character that I liked, even more importantly, one I respected. I just wish she had talked more, for when she did she proved her leadership skills. Another reason for my respect? She birthed her babies (by herself!) and immediately went back to work plowing fields. Oh, my! What woman would not respect such a one?!

If you have not read this contemporary classic, please consider reading The Good Earth and be reminded of the reasons we should appreciate the planet upon which we live.

#26: Breaking Dawn

2009-06-24T21:53:00.003-05:00

Just completed Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. Too fantastic for me. Just too much.

With this said, if you have completed the first three novels, I would definitely recommend you read the forth, for you will want to see how all this unravels; just do not buy the novel; borrow it.

I know...I am a realist.

Not sure where to go with this review, for I do not want to give away too many "spoilers." Let's make a deal: when you have read the novel, let me know, for I would love to discuss your views on Bella's relationship, well, with just about everyone in Breaking Dawn.

Throughout my journey with Bella, I initially was a Jacob fan; then in New Moon, I began to appreciate Edward more. Now, I think I am a Charlie-fan. I appreciate his "need-to-know" only knowledge level...or maybe Charlie is also a realist...like myself!?

Now the realist in me does appreciate that Meyer's gives her readers their money's worth. Her novels are long! Yes, think I will read The Host!

#25: Eclipse

2009-06-21T22:47:00.004-05:00

I am back...into Belle's world of vampires and werewolves, that is, as I picked up the third in this series Eclipse (and quickly went to our local Hastings and purchased only copy of the fourth novel New Moon).

Before you ask...and in case you have forgotten...I think (yes, I am starting to sway my viewpoint) I am now more of an Edward fan. That was very hard for me to admit! Just want Jacob to grow up! Then, I could like him so much more! Yes, I do appreciate Edward's maturity...but he is just so cold...literally!

My admiration grows for Stephanie Meyer as she continues her use of analogies to other great works of literature, including Wuthering Heights (which I will read upon finishing this series; think I will appreciate the novel even more as I make these text-to-text connections) and to the Bible, which is an on-going read for me.

I really appreciate Meyer's concern about Edward's soul. Edward seems to believe he does not have one; Bella, on the other hand, is adamant that he does have one. I just appreciate the concern by the author via her characters that having a soul is important. What do you think of this?

As I have carried this novel around with me the last few days, I must admit to embarrassment, for I must be the last person in this town to complete this series! From friends at a pool party my daughter attended to a student at Sonic...all shocked that I have not completed this series. That within itself is an excellent review of this novel.

Haven't read this series? You might consider doing so in private to save yourself such comments as...."What? Mrs. Gillmore, I can't believe you haven't read those books yet!" Just a warning: the above sample quote does not give justice to the disgust embedded in the tone of voice!

Again, I recommend....read this series and become a fan.

#24: Inkheart

2009-06-21T22:41:00.004-05:00

Finally finished this novel; this one took me most of the school year. I suppose that means that Inkheart's plot just did not keep my attention. I initially began this novel at the recommendation of a student in my 8th Grade Literacy Lab class.

The most appealing aspect to me was the author's use of quotes at the beginning of each chapter; yes, all 59 chapters! Ah, the research, the time spent choosing just the right quote to match the content of the chapter, for each one did. Amazing! Great novel to use to illustrate those text-to-text connections!

Will I read Inkdeath, the next novel in this series? Of course! It is already sitting on my shelf to read. This one, I hope to read this summer...and much quicker!

#21-23: Patterson and Baldacci

2009-06-21T22:39:00.003-05:00

School's out...time for a break with some intense thrillers. Glad to say I was able to help catch those horrible killers!

#20 - James Patterson's Sail

#21 - James Patterson's Judge and Jury

#22 - David Baldacci's The Whole Truth

#20: Max

2009-06-21T22:36:00.003-05:00

Oh, yes, I am still a fan! Maximum Ride and her part-bird friends take the reader on another exciting journey in James Patterson's latest release Max.
This series rivals the Harry Potter series in maintaining my interest. Yes, it's that good.

Again, I appreciate the messages Patterson conveys about global warming and animal testing. Excellent way to teach our young adults about two important concerns.

#19: The Color Purple

2009-06-21T22:24:00.003-05:00

Written by Alice Walker, The Color Purple was a novel I purchased as a result of a student's book review.

Interesting read. Definitely a voice for woman.

Walker introduces her complex characters through the voice of Celie as she writes letters to God and later her sister, with final letter again addressed to God.

As a Christian, I was challenged to continue reading as I personally do not condone some of the actions within the novel, yet I realized that not all are as blessed as I have been, that many do what they do to simply survive. Thus, I appreciate the person with whom Celie chooses to converse: God.

#18: Of Mice and Men

2009-06-01T12:50:00.005-05:00

Question...how is it that in my eighteenth year of teaching that I had never read this novel?

Then when I sat down to read it, I quit after the first few pages...very offensive, I thought. No way would I ever teach this, require my students to read such language. Since my English department "expected" all English 10 students to read this novel, I finally sat down, with two weeks left of the year, and read the novel...in one setting. Could not stop.

Author John Steinbeck created a masterpiece that speaks to all readers, despite the distance in years, despite any difference anyone might mention....the novel speaks, and soon the reader realizes the offensive language is not meant to offend but to truly relate the life experiences of the characters.

#17: Last Man Standing

2009-05-03T11:20:00.000-05:00

Review...to be written!

#16: A Memory of Water

2009-05-03T11:19:00.000-05:00

Review...to be written!

#15: The Giver

2009-05-03T11:18:00.000-05:00

Review...to be written!

#14: Animal Farm

2009-05-03T11:17:00.000-05:00

Review...to be written!

#13 A Lesson Before Dying

2009-05-03T11:14:00.001-05:00

Review...to be written!

#12 A Face to Recall

2009-05-03T11:13:00.002-05:00

Review...to be written.

#11 A Question of Honor

2009-03-27T08:44:00.002-05:00

Written by English teacher and blogger Dana Huff, this novel takes the reader on a journey to May Days, romance, long walks, transformations, and, yes, reformations.

Gwen, the main character, is someone with whom the reader can easily connect, despite possible differences in ages and great expanses of time and distance. As a mother, I want to mother her. As a teacher, I want to help educate her. As a friend, I want to say, "Now, Girlfriend, this is what you should do....really!"

Full of action, this novel's plot continues to develop, keeping one wondering, questioning, grasping for clues as to how the many conflicts will resolve. Will Gwen marry her one true love? Will she find family and develop healthy, lasting relationships? Will she ever develop an identity that is uniquely hers? Will the bonds of friendship survive the varied challenges each character faces?

As I read to the final pages, I found myself anxious to read the next novel in this series...except that this is not a series! Thus, my hope is that one day when Mrs. Dana has any extra time in her very busy schedule she will continue with the adventures of Dafydd, Madoc, and Richard, for each has story of his own waiting to printed on paper.

An awesome edition to my growing library...and a great read to share with friends.

#10: Night

2009-03-15T21:39:00.003-05:00

Oh, my...what a powerful novel! Night, written by Eli Weisel, takes you to the concentration camps, the train rides, the complete brutality of the Holocaust.

As soon as I completed this novel, I began researching more about the author and discovered that Night is the first of a trilogy. Just added two more reads to my growing I-can't-wait-until-summer-gets here list! Maybe within these two novels, I will find the answers to my other questions.

Was his faith in God really completely destroyed?
What happened to him after that American airplane arrived? (I was so proud that it was an American plane!)

This novel is one that I will lead a discussion with my students following Spring Break...it is a journey that all should take, for this book should be a reminder to us all of two of the many comments made by Weisel that was so poignant...

Still, I told him that I could not believe that human beings were being burned in our times; the world would never tolerate such crimes...
What I do know is that there is "response" in responsibility. When we speak of this era of evil and darkness, so close and yet so distant, "responsibility" is the key word.

May I do just even a small part, by encouraging the reading of this novel, by encouraging still a "response" in my students in the 21st Century that such horrific crimes against humans never occur again...then I think of the women in Africa...so, yes, we still have a great responsibility.

#9: Anthem

2009-03-01T16:38:00.002-06:00

Author Ayn Rand claims to have been an athiest.

Then why all the christian symbolism within her 1937 novel Anthem?

Please consider...

Main character Equality 7-2521 was whipped. "..and He Himself bore our sins (not diseases) in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His stripes we are healed" (1 Pet. 2:24).
When this same character leaves the oppressed world, he takes on a new name Prometheus, who according to mythology stole fire and gave it to mankind, just as Equality 7-2521 discovered light in the tunnel and presented it to his fellow men. “give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:79).
This is a novel about hope, faith, renewal.

Just some thoughts to ponder...the Christian in me must.

As you read, please see what insights you might gather.

#8: Call of the Wild

2009-03-01T16:04:00.003-06:00

Jack London is a natural, a naturalist, a vivid writer. Author of Call of the Wild, White Fang, and others, his talent ensures his ability to make his readers both love and hate his main characters throughout the same novel.

Buck...poor, poor Buck.

Buck...mean, vicious Buck.

While I could see, and even relate (uh, oh!), to both sides of this dog's nature, I was surprised at my students who only wanted to see the first descriptor. Why?

No pun intended...but is it because they always go for the underdog? Because they innately want/need a hero? Maybe...just maybe...it's because London hooked them so vividly from the first sentence that, despite Buck's faults, they felt bound to cheer this dog on in all his many circumstances?

I, along with the majority of my students, read this novel for the first time. If you have not read this novelette, please do so! Take the journey of Buck, the journey all the way back to his ancestors. Connect with the kinship he feels towards those who become his family.

Along the way, enjoy the setting of the Klondike, a gold rush that made Jack London more money from writing about this rush for gold in Alaska than actually experiencing it first-hand, which he did, and therein lies the reason for such vivid writing!

Grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate...you have a lot of ice and snow ahead of you...and prepare to get to know man's best friend...or his worst enemy.

#7: Antigone

2009-03-01T15:01:00.006-06:00

A drama that I have taught for numerous years but one that I read again for the first time in several years, this play by Sophocles speaks again to me about commitment and brain development. Yes, I know... what a combo!

One just cannot help but be appreciative of Antigone's loyalty to her family, especially her brother. Who among you would lay down his life for his/her brother?

On a different note, though, I have to question Antigone's level of brain development, for I look at this situation and wondered why could she have not handled this in a different fashion? Why make such a rash decision? Ah, yes, the answer: she lacked brain development, for she is probably just a mere fourteen or fifteen year old youngster, a mere babe, one that could not rationalize any further, for she simply does not have the brain capablities...yet. For with ages comes brain development.

According to a study by the National Institutes of Health...

Regardless of income or sex, children appeared to improve rapidly on many tasks between ages 6 and 10, with much less dramatic cognitive growth in adolescence. This result fits with previous research suggesting that in adolescence, there is a shift toward integrating what one knows rather than learning new basic skills.

Uhmmm...yes. Maybe Antigone just could not help herself, and she had too few live adults left in her life to guide her.

Thus, maybe one should read this drama as a warning of the result of thoughts too rash?

#6: Time Is a River

2009-01-28T22:06:00.009-06:00

WARNING: CHICK-FLICK REVIEW!

This is a novel I purchased one Friday evening during one of my stops at the local Wal-Mart to purchase what I am sure was a buggy-full-of-can't-live-without-items and when I was also in need of an escape from the land of education...then I proceeded to not read it for several weeks due to not being able to escape Educity.

Now back to the novel...Time Is a River.

This journey, written by Mary Alice Monroe, appealed to me because the main character is a breast cancer survivor. I could not remember reading one on such a close-to-the-arm topic (I once had a melanoma insitu there...oh, the dreaded "C" word...an insitu is a cancer that has not invaded below the first layer or two of skin)...nor one on fly-fishing, not that this topic appeals to be personally but is interesting from a sitting-in-my-comfy chair distance. Right?

The next selling point was the multi-genre approach the author achieved. What a great way to "hook" an English teacher! Besides the narrative format, Monroe includes a poem, several diary entries, letters, and famous quotes. Just too cool! A sly way to enter more than one character's head, more thoughts, multiple dreams.

Then the extended metaphor: the river becomes the life-sustaining need of the main character Mia Landon, with whom one cannot help but bond because of her many imperfections. Just as we each face our own reflection in the mirror and find all its many faults, Mia struggles and does overcome her many insecurities...those appointed her by this deadly disease and her adulteress ex-husband (let's see...can a male be an adulteress? Sorry, the description just fits.)

The setting: Mia escapes her reality to find reality (yes, tis true) in a cabin by a river on a mountain...a place far-removed from civilization. Her cell phone could not even get reception! To such a place she goes and faces loneliness as she never has before. Now for the irony? I read this novel during Arkansas' Ice Storm 2009. As I read/heard the many strange sounds of the night within this novel as Mia overcomes her fear of the night, I also heard the lonely pops of the limbs and trees on our land as they succumbed to the weight of the ice that had them enclosed. I heard nature's call...both through fiction and non-fiction.

As a Christian, I appreciated Monroe's affirmation of God through this character who had endured so much who concludes that she could not help but believe in Him after what she went through. Good testimony. Good enough for anyone.

Did I mention this is a ghost story? Out of all Mia's fear, ghosts are not one of them. Maybe this is because this ghost is troubled, and Mia can empathize with that. As a means of helping another hurting person...or ghost, in this case, Mia makes some heroic and very determined endeavors to help this ghost finally rest in peace.

Then I finished the novel and realized that this novel had been and could be used as a focus for a book club with the series of questions that followed. My favorite? #15. The reader is to reflect and find characteristics of a fairy tale. You can! Now who does not enjoy a good fairy tale? No matter what age you are! Thus, I encourage your reading this question before reading the novel.

Wondering if Mia finds her Prince Charming? SPOILER ALERT! She does!

#5 ~ The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

2009-01-25T00:06:00.009-06:00

If you like overkill...and I mean literally!...this book is for you! A hunter of aliens, Daniel encounters more adventures (and some very ugly, smelly aliens they are) than one might think believable...of course, this implies that you believe in aliens...of course.

A quick read, James Patterson's novel once again takes the reader into the mind of a young adult who has almost more going against him than he has going for him. So alone that Daniel often lives in a "pretend" world where he re-creates friends and loved ones that have died...wait...haven't all of us at one time or another "pretended" we live in other situations, in more more perfect times with grand outcomes? Maybe that is part of the appeal of the novel? (Might read some book reviews on GoodReads, though, that dispute that theory. Just scroll down the page.)

As I turned the page from one smelly adventure to the next out-of-this world experience, I did find myself thinking that "kids are going to love this in movie format." Wonder who they have already cast as Daniel?

A fan of Maximum Ride, I am not convinced, having just read the first in this series, that this adventure about the hunt for those aliens that really do exist all around us (including neighoring galaxies)will gather the appeal of the mutant bird friends in the former seres.

But just in case it does? Yes, I will read the next one (for from the beginning Daniel tells the reader that this series will be the his autobiographry)...in hopes that Patterson rebuilds my faith in him as an author who has created some prior intriguing characters.

#4 ~ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

2009-01-18T19:10:00.006-06:00

My first novel, delivered daily in eleven installments, from DailyLit, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was a surprising read by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

While I saw echoes of the 1920's lifestyle portrayed in The Great Gatsby, I realize that this novel's theme goes in another direction (no pun intended in regards to reversal of Button's age: he was born old and then proceeds to daily grow younger). Maybe Fitzgerald's message is that one should appreciate the cycle of life, that one should not take the "normalcy" of life for granted.

Fitzgerald also makes a statement to those who have "special" people in their lives. All of Benjamin Button's family, at one age or another, treats Button (because of his unique quality) with much disdain; thus, Button becomes the hero, overcoming a challenge life dealt him and succumbing peacefully to this cycle that we call life.

Good news! I can now go and see the movie! My students, though, have not given it the best of reviews. I'll let you now what I think.

I have now subscribed to Persuasion by Jane Austen...95 installments from now, I will let you know what I think of my next great read!

#3 ~ The City of Ember

2009-01-12T18:10:00.008-06:00

A novel about hope, The City of Ember held my attention until the very last page. When I completed the novel (during my lunch today!), I asked several students if they had read the first in this series, and several of them had, and all said they, too, had enjoyed reading this now-being-portrayed-on-the-big-screen hit, except they had read it several years ago, when they read it on grade-level, as this is a young adult novel for grades 4-7...let me comment on this little later.

Hope Springs Eternal?
Lina and Doon, each twelve-year-old graduates (and the main characters), assume their new assigned jobs of messenger and pipeworker and begin to learn that hope exists through a bean seed and a worm. Strange places for hope to spring, but spring hope does. Through these two forms of life, Lina and Doon also realize that life begins some other place than the city of Ember; something exists within. As a Christian, I will be interested to see where author Jeanne DuPrau goes with these interesting perceptions in the following three novels in this series.

Allegorical Move?
I also wonder if DuPrau might be establishing this novel as an allegory of sorts.

City of Ember = a country under attack
Unannounced light outages = bombing attacks
Mayor and the guards = oppressive forces
Lina and Doon = Savior-figures

Published in 2003, I wonder what thoughts DuPrau might have had about the war in which our country was/is fighting. Just a thought. (Not sure that fourth to seventh graders would analyze this novel quite like I did...so maybe Amazon might include English teachers with nearly 18 years of experience within their descriptor...as part of the reading level? Maybe?)

A DuPrau Insight
As an English teacher…and sometimes writer…I appreciate the following borrowed from DuPrau’s website:

Jeanne DuPrau spends several hours of every day at her computer, thinking up sentences. She has this quote taped to her wall:

"A writer is one for whom writing is harder than for other people." ~ Thomas Mann

This gives her courage, because she finds writing very hard. So many words to choose from! So many different things that could happen in a story at any moment! Writing is one tough decision after another.

But it's also the most satisfying thing she knows how to do. So she keeps doing it. So far, she has written four novels, six books of non-fiction, and quite a few essays and stories.

Need a good dose of hope? Sit down with a cup of coffee and enjoy this quick read. Take that journey down the river with Lina and Doon and Poppy.

#2 ~ New Moon

2009-01-03T10:46:00.006-06:00

Call me different...but I liked this novel in the Twilight Saga better than the first one. As in, I could not put the book down! Read until 1:00 AM...then finished it this morning. Now I am finally addicted! (Remember...I was the one that started Twilight three times and took nearly a semester to complete because I kept putting it down!)

Meyers has been critiqued by some as not being the best of writers. Not sure I agree with them, for their very actions belittle their accusations as these Meyer fans all quickly add that they, too, had to keep reading...all the way to the end. We also have to keep in mind the audience for which these novels were/are intended...young adults.

I also appreciate Meyer's references to the classics...this time to Romeo and Juliet and, in particular, the character Paris. Very interesting! I shall never read that play again in quite the same manner.

Shhhh...don't tell anyone, but I like Jacob better than Edward! Meyers just makes him more "real" to me than she does Edward. For one, he is warm! I just do not like being cold!

Two comments about these novels so far:

Religion: I will be interested to see where Meyers takes her discussion of souls and Bella's lack of "church" background. I personally think that young adulthood is an extremely important time to learn and develop this part of a person's identity. I hope she continues this line of reasoning.
Relationships: Meyers appreciates and respects the boundaries, the limits, the infiniteness of the ties that bind us to others. For example, Bella stands up to...or against...the love of her life to protect the friendship that she has with Jacob. That is a good thing, a mature issue that many of us cannot abide by even into adulthood.

Have you started this series? Please do!

#1 ~ Twilight: Why such titles?

2009-01-02T13:12:00.004-06:00

I finished the first Twilight novel yesterday...first novel of 2009 for me! All the way through I wondered...why did Stephanie Meyers choose this title? Now, I know! Interesting! No spoilers here, though. Must read the novel for yourself to discover the meaning of this title!

I also questioned the apple on the cover...and noticed last night at the conclusion of the movie that the apple appeared...just as on the cover...uhmmm. I remember Meyers mentioning an apple early in the novel...I have some thoughts, though, about this one...might have to deal with temptations?

Did I like the novel? Yes...maybe a little anticlimatic since there was just so much hype regarding this novel.

Did I like the movie? Yes...a little disappointed in the Edward's character. He just seemed a little too much...too white. Too obvious.

Do I recommend the novel and movie? Absolutely! This is a fad, a trend that no one should miss. It's fun and gives one an opportunity to escape into such a different world...and another state. I agree with Penny Kettle concerning her comments about this novel at English Companion ning...Washington state is interesting with all its rain and green growth and beauty.

Up next for me: Inkheart...just have to read the novels before going to see the movies!

The Inspiration for This Blog

2009-01-01T08:41:00.002-06:00

As I scanned my Reader, I read this post by Dana Huff at Much Madness is Divinest Sense...and was inspired.

This year...a new goal on this the first of January of the new year 2009...to catalog, to reflect, to share...my thoughts on books as I read them.

Ms. Dana read 23 books this past year...wow! Amazing, especially when you appreciate her extremely busy schedule.

Thanks, Ms. Dana, for the inspiration!

2008: Touching that inner spirit

2009-01-01T08:26:00.000-06:00

In English 11, we have been reading Ben Mikaelsen’s Touching Spirit Bear, not a hard-read, but a definite good read. Why teach this book at this level, a book taught by so many teachers at a lower grade?

Last year, when I read this soul-stirring novel in one night, it captivated me, and I decided then that this masterpiece would be the class-read for my A Pioneer Never Quits unit. The pioneer in this novel, though, is not Cole Matthews, the main character, a punk, a bully, a young person in definite conflict with himself.

The pioneer is Garvey, a parole officer. He never quits…even when he sits down and refuses to help Cole rebuild the cabin that this rebel intentionally burnt to the ground. (Yes, cutting off his own nose to spite his face.) Sitting down, though, in this case, is the best example of not quitting. Imagine that.

Garvey pioneers by not giving up on Cole. This man, a promoter of the Circle of Justice, is the constant that Cole has never had in his life.

Does Cole like Garvey? No. An understatement. Yet from day one, a respect is there.

Sometimes…well, sometimes, that is all one needs or can expect out of such characters.

So a note to teachers out there who have Coles in your life who do not like you. That’s okay…just make sure they respect you.

Then read Touching Spirit Bear to further understand why you and Garvey truly are pioneers…pioneers that never quit.

And, by the way…thanks!

Special thanks to our educational coop and Ms. Becky for loaning us a set of these books!

Originally posted on Treasure Chest of Thoughts on September 25, 2008.

2008: Th1rteen R3asons…not 12 or 14, but 13

2009-01-01T08:23:00.000-06:00

Thirteen reasons why everyone should read this novel:

This novel is written by Jay Asher at DiscoMermaids.
I purchased this novel because one of our school board members recommended it on his new blog…that within itself is very exciting! Here are his words: “This book should be a ‘must read’ for everyone in high school. It is a blending of Newton’s Third Law of Motion with Six Degrees of Separation. Only 288 pages, it is a quick read.”
This novel is told from two points of view, one of which is very unique and so memorable.
This novel is about bullying.
Probably written for young adults, this novel should be required of all high school counselors or student advisors.
All administrators should read this novel, especially those who care about the popular kids.
All teachers should read this novel.
Then all students should read this novel…but only after their teachers have read it. Why?
You just have to read it to discover why.
This novel will make you a better, no, a more observant parent.
This novel will open your ears, your eyes, your mind.
As you read, you will replace the main characters with persons within your own life, situations through which you have lived. Or maybe not…if you are lucky.
You will see through a different lens, maybe closer to 20-20. Real life.

Read this novel for a life-altering perspective. Just read it…please.

There…thirteen reasons why you…no, everyone…should read Th1irteen R3asons Why.

Originally posted on Treasure Chest of Thoughts on August 8, 2008.

2008: Ready for a personal revival?

2009-01-01T08:19:00.000-06:00

Other than the Bible, I have never read a novel that has affected me so intensely.

Please consider purchasing this book...The Shack…do not borrow one, for this is a book that you will want to keep so that you will have your very own personal copy and also so you can re-read it again and study what the author William P. Young has to say.

Young is gifted…both in story-telling and in the craft of writing.

Here’s a descriptor from Amazon.com:

Product DescriptionMackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives as the shack on a wintry afternoon and walk back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You’ll want everyone you know to read this book.

The only regret I have? I cannot use this book within the classroom because of the religious emphasis.

Please check out the novel’s website to read, if nothing else, an excerpt.

By the way, this novel is fiction….it’s just so hard to keep that in mind, though, as you turn page after page and are revived once again.

Originally posted on Treasure Chest of Thoughts on July 20, 2008.

2008: James Patterson and blogging

2009-01-01T08:16:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, I completed James Patterson’s Maximum Ride series, The Final Warning. A good read. A easy read. A must read.

James Patterson is an excellent author to use as a model for multiple-genres, point of view, style, fluency, voice…and the list goes on.

Fang, one of the characters in the series, begins a blog in book three…what a great way to show my students the use of blogs and genres, all in one interesting lesson. Throughout the third and fourth novels, several chapters are some of Fang’s blog postings.

Max, the main character, now has her own blog…yes, a “real” one. Good site to send students as they learn to navigate blogs.

I have never been a great fan of reading in the first-person point of view, but maybe my style is changing (that does happen…just stop and reflect what you have read throughout your life) or maybe, just maybe, Patterson has mastered this craft. Yes, I think that is it!

(Should my students ever read this entry, I will never hear the end of the previous sentence! Two no-no’s in one sentence! “I think” and “it” ~ sorry, readers-of-mine, I will work on that!)

I also appreciate the underlying messages that this series promotes. Before beginning this series, I had heard that one of the themes was Patterson’s stand against animal testing. Good use of foreshadowing…for I watched for this as I read, and, yes, the message is clearly there.
This fourth book’s messages was definitely about global warming…learned some scary facts about global warming. Good messages, though, for young adults to read about also…and in a captivating genre as an young adult novel!

Oh, yes, Max’s on-going mission? Of course, to save the world! Her latest blog is about the use of sunscreen!

Thanks to peer teacher Ms. Sharp for recommending this series. She works with resource students, and I can also see why this series would be a wonderful way to hook slow readers onto to reading, for Patterson’s chapters are very short; therefore, the slow reader would feel as if he/she is accomplishing/reading faster. Maybe?

Interested in this series? Patterson is giving away a class set of ten books! Before Spring Break I filled out the application and was very pleasantly surprised to find the box of books on my desk upon returning to school. Go for it!

One of the thematic units I cover with my English 11 classes is Antibullying…this set of books will definitely become a lit circle/independent reading option. Check here for curriculum resources.

Patterson has a new young adult series coming out this month…The Dangerous Days of Daniel X. Going to have to pick that one up!

Originally posted on Treasure Chest of Thoughts on July 10, 2008.

2008: The spark re-ignites

2009-01-01T08:11:00.000-06:00

Today I felt that spark for the first time since before school ever let out. I was so burned out that I just wasn’t sure when I would feel even the hint of any academic warmth again…but it’s back!

First, I took what I am referring to as a “fiction vacation” with James Patterson’s character Alex Cross…read five of his books in a week! Need to let Mr. Cross work alone for a while! I can only take so many serial killers in one week! Good read, though, if you enjoy suspense…and I do!
My students also enjoy Patterson’s teen read featuring his part-bird character Maximum Ride…guess, I have a little kid in me…I have completed books one thru three and have book four sitting beside me now!

Now, I’m “reading for work,” as described by my husband. Penny Kittle’s book Write Beside Them is an intellectually stimulating way to begin my personal professional development for this summer with a group of teachers from all across the United States. Check out the wiki for this project at Learners4Life.

The above book seems to hit on the writing aspect of my job, so for the other areas of teaching English, I am also reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor and Understanding by Design.

Why all these professional books? I need a change. Professionally, last year was a “slump year” for me…mainly because I was on survival to just to keep myself just a half-step ahead of my next deadline!

Okay, it was not a total slump or I would not be writing in this very format right now!

Just purchased another summer read recommended by a friend and peer Ms. Margo who encountered a book review of this book while at cheer camp this week. If you are Harry Potter fan, sounds like this is a new series for we fantasy supporters! Trenton Lee Stewart…is he the next J.K. Rowling? He’s from my native state…Arkansas! Stewart’s new fantasy world in The Benedict Society does sound interesting! He’s published two and is writing his third in this series.

What are you reading?

Posted originally on my personal blog Treasure Chest of Thoughts on June 8, 2008.

Mrs. Gillmore's Book Reviews

2: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

1: Eat, Pray, Love

Reading...Yes, I Am!

2012 Book Challenges

2011 Book Challenges

#59: Focus

More December Reads: #56-58

December Reads: Books #52-55.5

46-51: Fall Reads

45: The City of Fallen Angels

44: A Midsummer Night's Dream

00: The Book Whisperer

43: Advancing Formative Assessment in Every Classroom

41-42: James Patterson and Neil White

40: Slaughter-House Five

37-39: Thirst Series by Christopher Pike

36: The Help

34-35: Theodore Boone and Tough Customer

30-33: Recipes, Gardens, and Shakespeare

26-29: Four More Reads

24-26: Spring Rain, Book of Unholy Mishief, & Remarkable Creatures

23: Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

22: The 360 Degree Leader

21: The Sun Also Rises

20: Heroes of the Valley

17-19: The Walk, Wicked, Magyck

#16: House Rules

#11-15: Selections by Colleen Coble

#10 C. S. Lewis: Creator of Narnia (Heroes of the Faith)

#9: When the Lion Feeds

#8: Fahrenheit 451

#7: The Poisonwood Bible

#6: Lonestar Sanctuary

5: The Sorceress

4: Change of Heart

3: The Magician

2. The Alchemyst

1: Salting Roses

Reflecting on 2010

Before I Fall

Summer 2010

Behind!

#6-7: Ladybug Farm

# 5: Tempted (House of Night)

#4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

#3: Witch and Wizard

#2: City of Bones

#1: Deliah's Crossing

#48-52: Christmas Combo of Novels ~ 2009

#47 How Starbucks Saved My Life

#46: Speak

#45: "Y" City

#43-44: James Patterson Duo

#42: Catching Fire

#41: The Dante Club

#40: Hunted (House of Night #5)

#39: The Thirteenth Tale

Book Glutton: An Online Read

#38: A Whole New Mind

#35-37: House of Night Books 2-4

#34: The Last Lecture

#33: Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts...

#32: The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane

#31: The Hunger Games

#30: Marked

#29: Escape

#28: The Lovely Bones

#27: The Good Earth

#26: Breaking Dawn

#25: Eclipse

#24: Inkheart

#21-23: Patterson and Baldacci

#20: Max

#19: The Color Purple

#18: Of Mice and Men

#17: Last Man Standing

#16: A Memory of Water

#15: The Giver

#14: Animal Farm