When you look at how much things have changed on my blog and website, you think, well I guess things change very little from year to year in Mrs. Phippen's class, and yet, I re-think EVERY LESSON, every time I teach it. I re-think my lesson plans, my units, my disclosure documents, and I re-think the structure of everything I do from the ground up, every year. I think that's how I keep my job fresh every year. I also think that's why I love my job so much.
Every year, it's brand new for me. The students aren't the only NEW thing for me, the material is brand new and fresh for me. It's percolated brand new, from scratch, every year. I throw it all out, look at it again, and decide "Is this PERFECT?" Is this JUST what works? Is this the very best thing I have to teach this, or could I find something better? If something isn't the best thing, I don't use it. Sometimes, I'll devise something better from first period to fourth period and my periods won't all have the same assignments. I reserve the right to get better as the day gets long. I think that's the benefit of improvement.
My newest restructure is the kindle. One of these days I'm going to go 3G. My mom gave my the non-3G, which works great... in my bedroom. If I wander away from my bed, no wireless. Why do I not get wireless reception in my kitchen?? God only knows. It's only of those Cosmic Mysteries. I often get hit-or-miss reception on my front porch. I do know that it will change the way people read, and it will change the way I teach kids to choose books because choosing a book by the front cover in *black & white* is not nearly the same as choosing from Amazon.com in color. Yeah. Color makes a HUGE difference when choosing a book.
Anyway, my reading unit is being rethought, and rethought, and it's my baby. I know it's thing thing I do best, and I teach writing through reading. So... because I am an integrated teaching, all that I do is being rethought. This is my favorite time of year. I love the thinking about how to get things done and the set-up of how to get there. :o)
05 August 2011
28 August 2010
The Iron Daughter (Ah, LOVE!)
I love a good Saturday read, and I love a good romance novel... This is the sequel to The Iron King, and both are Harlequin Teen Fiction. Based on characters from Much Ado About Nothing, we have Puck, Queen Mab, Oberon, and a host of other Fey who are in NeverNever and locked in a dance between the upper Sidhe and Unseelie Court. This is definitely Faery Fiction at it's finest. This is not Shakespeare.
Our plucky romantic lead is played by Meghan Chase, daughter of Oberon, and a member of the Summer Court (a half-human Sidhe) and she is the Juliet to our Romeo, Prince Ash, son of Queen Mab of the Unseelie Winter Court. Meghan is currently a prisoner in the Winter court...
1. It's an up and down love story, and it does require reading the first book in the series. However, it's not predictable and has several nice twists in the story. While the characters might feel predictable, the story is new. There are two lovers who are forbidden to be together, not just for one reason, but for several, and they aren't all clear from the outset. That's one of the nice twists of the story. 1 star.
2. The characters are nicely rounded. The heroine is strong. She spends the entire story discovering that she doesn't need the men to rescue her, she doesn't need magic to rescue her, and she doesn't need her father or her parents to rescue her. All of those things are nice, but everything necessary is inside her. She can choose any one of those things as extras, but who she is inside is enough. That's a message not often found, and is so incredibly rare in a romance novel that I'm going to give this book 2 stars just for having the message at all! She fights the demons, and all of the most important, most strong characters, including powerful characters in the book, are female. Love it. Love it, love it. Julie, you are clever. That the male characters are also nice people is great, too. Don't get me wrong. The two men who are in love with her are nice men. She has a choice between two nice men, and it's not an easy choice. Julie. Again. A great reason for 2 stars.
3. I like that Meghan's story has a happy ending at this point. At the end of book 1, she had a good resolution. At the end of book 2, she has a great resolution. However, it's very obvious to me where Kagawa is headed with this story. I know what the only possible truly happy ending can be. I hope there's a twist I haven't seen yet. I'm pulling for ya, because I've just read book 4 Radiant Shadows in Melissa Marr's series, and I want something new. Give me something new... No, really.
At this point, it's a really solid series. Girls will enjoy it. I did. It's also a clean read, which is hard to find!! There was NO SEX in it!! It gets another star for that. You don't find that very often in teen lit...
4 stars, recommend.
Our plucky romantic lead is played by Meghan Chase, daughter of Oberon, and a member of the Summer Court (a half-human Sidhe) and she is the Juliet to our Romeo, Prince Ash, son of Queen Mab of the Unseelie Winter Court. Meghan is currently a prisoner in the Winter court...
1. It's an up and down love story, and it does require reading the first book in the series. However, it's not predictable and has several nice twists in the story. While the characters might feel predictable, the story is new. There are two lovers who are forbidden to be together, not just for one reason, but for several, and they aren't all clear from the outset. That's one of the nice twists of the story. 1 star.
2. The characters are nicely rounded. The heroine is strong. She spends the entire story discovering that she doesn't need the men to rescue her, she doesn't need magic to rescue her, and she doesn't need her father or her parents to rescue her. All of those things are nice, but everything necessary is inside her. She can choose any one of those things as extras, but who she is inside is enough. That's a message not often found, and is so incredibly rare in a romance novel that I'm going to give this book 2 stars just for having the message at all! She fights the demons, and all of the most important, most strong characters, including powerful characters in the book, are female. Love it. Love it, love it. Julie, you are clever. That the male characters are also nice people is great, too. Don't get me wrong. The two men who are in love with her are nice men. She has a choice between two nice men, and it's not an easy choice. Julie. Again. A great reason for 2 stars.
3. I like that Meghan's story has a happy ending at this point. At the end of book 1, she had a good resolution. At the end of book 2, she has a great resolution. However, it's very obvious to me where Kagawa is headed with this story. I know what the only possible truly happy ending can be. I hope there's a twist I haven't seen yet. I'm pulling for ya, because I've just read book 4 Radiant Shadows in Melissa Marr's series, and I want something new. Give me something new... No, really.
At this point, it's a really solid series. Girls will enjoy it. I did. It's also a clean read, which is hard to find!! There was NO SEX in it!! It gets another star for that. You don't find that very often in teen lit...
4 stars, recommend.
The Atlantis Complex (Artemis grows a conscience)
It's been two full years since I read The Time Paradox, time enough to cleanse my palate and want to revisit Atlantis and my favorite teen villain, Artemis. In fact, time enough to hope Coulfer had reinvented Artemis and re-energized the series.
After the tragic epic fail of The Time Paradox, either nothing could be worse, or Artemis had only one last chance... So, here we were.
1. Most of the plot is once again in the arctic. Brrr. I was concerned at the start of the novel with several things. Let me outline them quickly so that I can get them out of the way: global warming (yawn), OCD/mental complex (over-done?), rehash of old villains (blah, blah, blah). However, Coulfer quickly convinced me that he was not going to bore me, preach to me, or give me something that sounded like a trip to the psychologist's chair. I also was interested in all the characters. They didn't sound old to me, even though I knew I knew them. They were new again. Kudos to Coulfer. 2 stars.
2. Artemis is definitely growing up. Coulfer could choose to do one of two things with the Fowl series. He could choose to do as several other writers do, and firmly ground Artemis in the 9-12 arena and leave him there as many writers do. Instead, Artemis is growing and evolving, more in the Rowling-Potter style. The books are getting longer, and Artemis is growing and learning. Artemis is much, much more complex than when book one was written in 2003. I must say, I adore him, and what pours out of him in several sections, while it may appall him in certain sections is delighting to the reader. Artemis is a round, amazing character. He's why I read Coulfer and very possibly my favorite fictional character of all time. Criminal mastermind, devoted son, bespoken suit, faery friend, demon defender. He's a total package. There are other darling heroes out there in books, but Artemis Fowl is quite possibly the best one in print. 1 star.
3. Captain Holly Short always saves the day. Give her a situation, and she can make it happen. She never gives up, she never gives in, and she can fly anything. Oh, and give her a weapon, and she'll usually use it against Artemis, not in malice, of course. The fact that she's a strong female character tickles me pink, and that she's always saving the day, and that she's round and not flat as a side-kick is also great bonus material. She and Foaly are fantastic back-up characters, but in this novel, Holly is worth her weight in gold. She moves the plot along, and she's the "driving" force in more ways than one. I'm pulling for Holly, and she's always dragging Artemis into doing the right thing. This time, Artemis drags Holly into the right thing, and the flip is just so delicious. Coulfer, I love you. 1 star.
4. Meh items? Colfer had some other plot items that I don't think he liked, and he did a bit of cleaning house. I think that's what the last book was about. The Time Paradox seemed a lot about cleaning up plot issues, or it was simply a mis-step. This time, there was a lot right in the Artemis Fowl world. I definitely enjoyed this book.
It's not my favorite book of the series, it's a strong one in this series. I adore who Artemis is becoming, and it had some funny moments. Recommend for the junior high set who like modern fantasy with gadgets in their mix. If they liked Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider, they might like Artemis Fowl. I know I do.
4 stars
After the tragic epic fail of The Time Paradox, either nothing could be worse, or Artemis had only one last chance... So, here we were.
1. Most of the plot is once again in the arctic. Brrr. I was concerned at the start of the novel with several things. Let me outline them quickly so that I can get them out of the way: global warming (yawn), OCD/mental complex (over-done?), rehash of old villains (blah, blah, blah). However, Coulfer quickly convinced me that he was not going to bore me, preach to me, or give me something that sounded like a trip to the psychologist's chair. I also was interested in all the characters. They didn't sound old to me, even though I knew I knew them. They were new again. Kudos to Coulfer. 2 stars.
2. Artemis is definitely growing up. Coulfer could choose to do one of two things with the Fowl series. He could choose to do as several other writers do, and firmly ground Artemis in the 9-12 arena and leave him there as many writers do. Instead, Artemis is growing and evolving, more in the Rowling-Potter style. The books are getting longer, and Artemis is growing and learning. Artemis is much, much more complex than when book one was written in 2003. I must say, I adore him, and what pours out of him in several sections, while it may appall him in certain sections is delighting to the reader. Artemis is a round, amazing character. He's why I read Coulfer and very possibly my favorite fictional character of all time. Criminal mastermind, devoted son, bespoken suit, faery friend, demon defender. He's a total package. There are other darling heroes out there in books, but Artemis Fowl is quite possibly the best one in print. 1 star.
3. Captain Holly Short always saves the day. Give her a situation, and she can make it happen. She never gives up, she never gives in, and she can fly anything. Oh, and give her a weapon, and she'll usually use it against Artemis, not in malice, of course. The fact that she's a strong female character tickles me pink, and that she's always saving the day, and that she's round and not flat as a side-kick is also great bonus material. She and Foaly are fantastic back-up characters, but in this novel, Holly is worth her weight in gold. She moves the plot along, and she's the "driving" force in more ways than one. I'm pulling for Holly, and she's always dragging Artemis into doing the right thing. This time, Artemis drags Holly into the right thing, and the flip is just so delicious. Coulfer, I love you. 1 star.
4. Meh items? Colfer had some other plot items that I don't think he liked, and he did a bit of cleaning house. I think that's what the last book was about. The Time Paradox seemed a lot about cleaning up plot issues, or it was simply a mis-step. This time, there was a lot right in the Artemis Fowl world. I definitely enjoyed this book.
It's not my favorite book of the series, it's a strong one in this series. I adore who Artemis is becoming, and it had some funny moments. Recommend for the junior high set who like modern fantasy with gadgets in their mix. If they liked Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider, they might like Artemis Fowl. I know I do.
4 stars
24 August 2010
Mockingjay! A Machiavellian Ride...
After back to school night, I came home to the most pleasant surprise: my copy from Amazon had arrived! Despite being absolutely knackered, I opened it about 10:30pm, and read it anyway. When I finished it... here are my thoughts:
1. Suzanne Collins did tie up all the loose ends. There's nothing to finish, no story, character, or plot to revisit. She tied everything up, and there are no plot holes. 1st star.
2. The characters are nicely rounded. Despite the book being told in first person, Katniss is not the only "main" character. The book is still deeply introspective, but Katniss is deeper, richer, and grows to be a likable character. She realizes who she is, what she wants, and the reader sees what they want for her in the future. Gale, Peeta, Prim, and the other characters are also nicely rounded out this time around. Even the more minor characters are likable. The villains are true antagonists vs nemesis, which makes them realistic. This is "real life" instead of "super heroes." Life in microcosm. 2 stars.
3. There was a lot of emotional appeal. I was torn about how it played emotionally. For its teen audience, I guess this is OK. Sometimes I wondered if this was more than needed. This will be great for the silver screen. Much of what happened in the book was a gigantic emotional appeal of "spots"--advertisements--promos (propo--propaganda) for either side of the revolution. "Tell me how to feel." One of the gigantic themes of the book is "Don't mess with how I feel". Real or not real? It plays on the philosophical idea that "reality exists in the mind" and that sanity is a state of mental clarity.
4. The book had a lot of action, jumped around in location, and went places. This was fine. It kept the reader waiting, wanting, and reading... Another star.
All in all, I give the book 4 stars. A good, solid finish to an excellent series. It had 2 plot twists I was not expecting (which is always good!) and tied up the series well.
1. Suzanne Collins did tie up all the loose ends. There's nothing to finish, no story, character, or plot to revisit. She tied everything up, and there are no plot holes. 1st star.
2. The characters are nicely rounded. Despite the book being told in first person, Katniss is not the only "main" character. The book is still deeply introspective, but Katniss is deeper, richer, and grows to be a likable character. She realizes who she is, what she wants, and the reader sees what they want for her in the future. Gale, Peeta, Prim, and the other characters are also nicely rounded out this time around. Even the more minor characters are likable. The villains are true antagonists vs nemesis, which makes them realistic. This is "real life" instead of "super heroes." Life in microcosm. 2 stars.
3. There was a lot of emotional appeal. I was torn about how it played emotionally. For its teen audience, I guess this is OK. Sometimes I wondered if this was more than needed. This will be great for the silver screen. Much of what happened in the book was a gigantic emotional appeal of "spots"--advertisements--promos (propo--propaganda) for either side of the revolution. "Tell me how to feel." One of the gigantic themes of the book is "Don't mess with how I feel". Real or not real? It plays on the philosophical idea that "reality exists in the mind" and that sanity is a state of mental clarity.
4. The book had a lot of action, jumped around in location, and went places. This was fine. It kept the reader waiting, wanting, and reading... Another star.
All in all, I give the book 4 stars. A good, solid finish to an excellent series. It had 2 plot twists I was not expecting (which is always good!) and tied up the series well.
27 July 2010
What I've Read so Far... Not in order...
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (I'd give it 3 stars). It was a decent read, and I'll probably buy the sequel just to see how it ends. Interesting premise on several levels.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (which I would give 4 stars). It's a much better (tighter) story of The Nicholas Flamel series currently out which I have spent (wasted) time reading.
The Sorcerer by Michael Scott (which I would give only 2 stars) is meh. I'm half-way through the series. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the Red Pyramid (and I read the Red Pyramid after). Rick Riordan's book is better.
The Necromancer by Michael Scott (2 stars) See above.
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (3 stars) Amazon recommended this one, and it was an interesting, if a bit gothic/emo romance. Some of my girls will really like this "freaky" romance.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (1 star) I got this book as a "bargain" drama, and it intrigued me because of the "Jellicoe cat" reference, and who doesn't love a bit of TS Elliot in the AM? But, skip, skip, skip, all the way home. DID NOT LIKE, DO NOT recommend. Convoluted plot, totally unrealistic ending. I hated slogging through it, and had to really, really twist myself to figure out how on God's green earth she'd figured out a plot so odd.
Ranger's Apprentice Kings of Clonmel #8 by John Flanagan (4 stars) For a book written for a kid age 10, I really enjoy these books. Although this isn't my favorite in the series, it was a good read. Nice solid plotting. Not too predictable. No magic. Love that about this series.
The Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood Series)
Dead Until Dark (3 stars) I liked this--not for girls under 17! This is NOT Twilight!
Living Dead In Dallas (3 stars)
Club Dead (4 stars) This was a really, really good one. I liked Alcide and the other characters!
Dead to the World (5 stars) This is my FAVORITE of the whole series!!
Dead as a Doornail (2 stars) as a follow up to the one before, this was a HUGE downer.
Definitely Dead (1 star) HATED this book. It was my LEAST favorite books of the series, but we did get the cute new character of Amelia from New Orleans and cousin Hadley.
Altogether Dead (3 stars) this was a MUCH better book than the last, and at least SOMETHING happened at the end.
From Dead to Worse (2 stars) I skimmed this one... Figuring out what was going on with the characters... No real mystery in this one
Dead and Gone (2 stars) Meh
Dead in the Family (2 stars) Meh
I happened to HAVE all the Sookie Stackhouse books, and thus read them all at one time
The Eyre Affaire
by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)
Lost in a Good Book
by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)
The Well of Lost Plot
s by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)
Thursday Next, First Among Sequels
by Jasper Fforde (3 stars)
The Big Over Easy: a Nursery Crime by Jasper Fforde (4 stars)
The Fourth Bear: a Nursery Crime by Jasper Fforde (4 stars)
Mort
by Terry Pratchett (5 stars) Death takes an apprentice. LOVELY book set on Discworld. If you've never visited Terry Pratchett's Discworld, you should visit.
Hogfather
by Terry Pratchett (3 stars) Death stands in for Santa. Why and how come?
Soul Music
by Terry Pratchett (2 stars) Buddy Holly, Death, and Death's granddaughter "Susan" because it's Terry Pratchett on Disworld.
Reaper Man
by Terry Pratchett (4 stars) Death takes a holiday---ok, he gets FIRED. Funny stuff.
Fablehaven
(4 stars) This was a good solid read
Rise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven) (3 stars) liked this book, read it quickly.
Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven) (3 stars) I had all
Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven)
(5 stars) I think I've got it figured out... And my favorite of the series.
Fablehaven, Book 5:Keys to the Demon Prison (2 stars) I didn't like the ending of the series. It was 2 books smashed into one book, and it was long. It should have been written as 2 books. It wasn't that the series didn't end properly or as I expected, just that the ending seemed hurried.
Pillage
(3 stars) This was a lovely book about dragons. Recommend for grades 4-6.
The Iron King (Harlequin Teen)
(4 star) Retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I really liked it. Clever.
Tempted (House of Night, Book 6) (2 star) Meh. Seriously? Where is this series headed??
Burned (House of Night Novels)
(2 stars? perhaps?)
Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
(4 stars) I started this book last year and got to Indonesia with her and never really understood why she continued on to Bali. I finished out the book, but the second time around, I really connected with her. The first time around, I thought it was a 2 or 3 star, but the second time around, I liked it better. Of course, I'm coming at it from the same place, so I'm empathizing, too. That makes a difference.
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan (which I would give 4 stars). It's a much better (tighter) story of The Nicholas Flamel series currently out which I have spent (wasted) time reading.
The Sorcerer by Michael Scott (which I would give only 2 stars) is meh. I'm half-way through the series. I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the Red Pyramid (and I read the Red Pyramid after). Rick Riordan's book is better.
The Necromancer by Michael Scott (2 stars) See above.
The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting (3 stars) Amazon recommended this one, and it was an interesting, if a bit gothic/emo romance. Some of my girls will really like this "freaky" romance.
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta (1 star) I got this book as a "bargain" drama, and it intrigued me because of the "Jellicoe cat" reference, and who doesn't love a bit of TS Elliot in the AM? But, skip, skip, skip, all the way home. DID NOT LIKE, DO NOT recommend. Convoluted plot, totally unrealistic ending. I hated slogging through it, and had to really, really twist myself to figure out how on God's green earth she'd figured out a plot so odd.
Ranger's Apprentice Kings of Clonmel #8 by John Flanagan (4 stars) For a book written for a kid age 10, I really enjoy these books. Although this isn't my favorite in the series, it was a good read. Nice solid plotting. Not too predictable. No magic. Love that about this series.
The Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood Series)
Dead Until Dark (3 stars) I liked this--not for girls under 17! This is NOT Twilight!
Living Dead In Dallas (3 stars)
Club Dead (4 stars) This was a really, really good one. I liked Alcide and the other characters!
Dead to the World (5 stars) This is my FAVORITE of the whole series!!
Dead as a Doornail (2 stars) as a follow up to the one before, this was a HUGE downer.
Definitely Dead (1 star) HATED this book. It was my LEAST favorite books of the series, but we did get the cute new character of Amelia from New Orleans and cousin Hadley.
Altogether Dead (3 stars) this was a MUCH better book than the last, and at least SOMETHING happened at the end.
From Dead to Worse (2 stars) I skimmed this one... Figuring out what was going on with the characters... No real mystery in this one
Dead and Gone (2 stars) Meh
Dead in the Family (2 stars) Meh
I happened to HAVE all the Sookie Stackhouse books, and thus read them all at one time
The Eyre Affaire
by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)Lost in a Good Book
by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)The Well of Lost Plot
s by Jasper Fforde (5 stars)Thursday Next, First Among Sequels
by Jasper Fforde (3 stars)The Big Over Easy: a Nursery Crime by Jasper Fforde (4 stars)
The Fourth Bear: a Nursery Crime by Jasper Fforde (4 stars)
Mort
by Terry Pratchett (5 stars) Death takes an apprentice. LOVELY book set on Discworld. If you've never visited Terry Pratchett's Discworld, you should visit.Hogfather
by Terry Pratchett (3 stars) Death stands in for Santa. Why and how come?Soul Music
by Terry Pratchett (2 stars) Buddy Holly, Death, and Death's granddaughter "Susan" because it's Terry Pratchett on Disworld.Reaper Man
by Terry Pratchett (4 stars) Death takes a holiday---ok, he gets FIRED. Funny stuff.Fablehaven
(4 stars) This was a good solid readRise of the Evening Star (Fablehaven) (3 stars) liked this book, read it quickly.
Grip of the Shadow Plague (Fablehaven) (3 stars) I had allSecrets of the Dragon Sanctuary (Fablehaven)
(5 stars) I think I've got it figured out... And my favorite of the series.Fablehaven, Book 5:Keys to the Demon Prison (2 stars) I didn't like the ending of the series. It was 2 books smashed into one book, and it was long. It should have been written as 2 books. It wasn't that the series didn't end properly or as I expected, just that the ending seemed hurried.
Pillage
(3 stars) This was a lovely book about dragons. Recommend for grades 4-6.The Iron King (Harlequin Teen)
(4 star) Retelling of A Midsummer Night's Dream. I really liked it. Clever.Tempted (House of Night, Book 6) (2 star) Meh. Seriously? Where is this series headed??
Burned (House of Night Novels)
(2 stars? perhaps?)Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia
(4 stars) I started this book last year and got to Indonesia with her and never really understood why she continued on to Bali. I finished out the book, but the second time around, I really connected with her. The first time around, I thought it was a 2 or 3 star, but the second time around, I liked it better. Of course, I'm coming at it from the same place, so I'm empathizing, too. That makes a difference.
22 July 2010
The Eyre Affair & the Thursday Next Series
The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde is the first of the Thursday Next novels, and it is the novel I have gifted most to people who teach English. I think it is cleverly written and requires one to be well read and know characters from Austen, Dickens, and also understand theme and motivation behind the characters. It also requires death of the author, and the realization that words have a life of their own.
The five books in the series are not all equal. I enjoyed certain characters more than others. For example, I thought the series was most fleshed out, most round, and most touching in the scenes with her Uncle Mycroft (and the thought of him and Sherlock Holmes interacting was delightful!) I also thought that Something Rotten, was probably the strongest of the books, despite it being the zaniest of them because the theme in the book shows that no matter what, at their core, people have goodness inside of them: poetry can move us to find goodness inside ourselves. Words have the power to move us. Beware: Poetry has power. Despite all of the strong points in book four, the most touching ending was at the end of book three, which was the climax of the series, certainly. Her father, who's name is never, ever revealed, is a well rounded, delightful character only seen for literally flashes of time in the book that don't seem to matter, but they are enough to give us comic relief and insight into who he is and how Thursday feels about him.
My very favorite character is Granny Next, and she comprises the best moments of book four. She's the best parts of the series for me. I adore her and she reminds me much of Granny Weatherwax from Terry Pratchett's works. She's all knowing in blue gingham, and I loved her interaction with Thursday.
I did not enjoy the fifth book in the series. I found myself thinking, this is Thursday's future? Really? Wow. Middle age really does bite. I did love her children, and Landon was fantastic. Polly and her mother were still funny and silly, and I even still loved hating Lola Vavoom. Having read everything else Jasper Fforde had written, I expected to be thrilled to be visiting Thursday and her family again in her First Among Sequels, but I was SO DEPRESSED by her life. Read if you must, but if you want my advice? Imagine that her life stopped when you finish Something Rotten, and leave her when her future was amazing. Jasper Fforde has another book coming out in the Thursday Next series in the next year... I'll be reading it.
Recommend if you like Austen. It has strong language in it (She is a police officer). You should have read the classics. You should also understand literary speak like puns, allusion, etc. Much like Terry Pratchett. Would consider it to be like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
The five books in the series are not all equal. I enjoyed certain characters more than others. For example, I thought the series was most fleshed out, most round, and most touching in the scenes with her Uncle Mycroft (and the thought of him and Sherlock Holmes interacting was delightful!) I also thought that Something Rotten, was probably the strongest of the books, despite it being the zaniest of them because the theme in the book shows that no matter what, at their core, people have goodness inside of them: poetry can move us to find goodness inside ourselves. Words have the power to move us. Beware: Poetry has power. Despite all of the strong points in book four, the most touching ending was at the end of book three, which was the climax of the series, certainly. Her father, who's name is never, ever revealed, is a well rounded, delightful character only seen for literally flashes of time in the book that don't seem to matter, but they are enough to give us comic relief and insight into who he is and how Thursday feels about him.
My very favorite character is Granny Next, and she comprises the best moments of book four. She's the best parts of the series for me. I adore her and she reminds me much of Granny Weatherwax from Terry Pratchett's works. She's all knowing in blue gingham, and I loved her interaction with Thursday.
I did not enjoy the fifth book in the series. I found myself thinking, this is Thursday's future? Really? Wow. Middle age really does bite. I did love her children, and Landon was fantastic. Polly and her mother were still funny and silly, and I even still loved hating Lola Vavoom. Having read everything else Jasper Fforde had written, I expected to be thrilled to be visiting Thursday and her family again in her First Among Sequels, but I was SO DEPRESSED by her life. Read if you must, but if you want my advice? Imagine that her life stopped when you finish Something Rotten, and leave her when her future was amazing. Jasper Fforde has another book coming out in the Thursday Next series in the next year... I'll be reading it.
Recommend if you like Austen. It has strong language in it (She is a police officer). You should have read the classics. You should also understand literary speak like puns, allusion, etc. Much like Terry Pratchett. Would consider it to be like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.
Starting the Summer with Sookie Stackhouse
Although the stories and characters are familiar creatures of nightmare, the twists and turns are new and enjoyable. For several books, one wonders why everyone (Bill, Eric, Sam, etc.) likes Sookie and wants her more than anyone else in existence, but the explanation, which was long in coming (book nine!), did make sense and created much of the plot for books nine and ten. Sookie's love interests have made for great reading, and vampires, weyrs, etc, do make for interesting bedfellows!
Not all ten of these books are great reads. None of them are for people under 18, and I am not recommending True Blood on HBO. That's not even SOFT porn. I got more than I bargained for when I attempted to watch part of the show one night! Wow. When I did wikipedia the synopsis of the show, I discovered it didn't follow the plot of the books, either. So two disappointing things, right there. If you choose to read Sookie, keep in mind, it's supermarket romance with fantasy vampires and mystery thrown in. Lots of vampires, sex, and blood. If that's your thing, Sookie is for you.
Recommend if you like Janet Evanovich, Anne Rice, and Nora Roberts.
After the Books of Summer Have Gone...
This summer I've made a goal to read 100 books and then during my initial "Getting to Know You" activity talk about what students read over the summer and give my spiel about critical/casual reading and Lake Powel (Lake Pal). I even have photos of Lake Powell readers to put up on my Eiki to go with it. (If you have a great Lake Pal story, please leave me a comment).
Anyway, I'm making my list, and checking it twice. I'll include the list of stuff I've read so far. Of course, I'm going to leave it in bunches since we've gone half-way through the summer. :o) This is going on my bulletin board with the Amazon.com method of rating. I'll also include "pit-churs" and if you've been in my class, you're all reliving how I pronounce that word, and wishing you could hear me "Say it again, Phipp." You know you are.
Anyway, I'm making my list, and checking it twice. I'll include the list of stuff I've read so far. Of course, I'm going to leave it in bunches since we've gone half-way through the summer. :o) This is going on my bulletin board with the Amazon.com method of rating. I'll also include "pit-churs" and if you've been in my class, you're all reliving how I pronounce that word, and wishing you could hear me "Say it again, Phipp." You know you are.
05 November 2009
Kindred in Death by J.D. Robb
I am an avid Roarke fan, and I've even made Eve's mantra of "Bite me" my own... However, this novel felt like a mixture of all of the others in the series. Here are my big questions:
1. Does every murderer need to be from a serial killer? Don't murderers only ever commit one murder?
2. Why would murderers always feel driven to have the same initials? (She has used this over and over and over again.)
3. Why are pocket PC's completely untraceable?
4. Do we need another mystery where a parent is urging a child to commit a massive murder? (She's done several already!)
5. Does every crime have to relate to Eve's past, Eve's dad, and Marlena? Will something new ever happen to Eve and Roarke?
Now, the good parts of this novel?
1. Eve actually invited Louise over and played the matron of honor OK. She even dropped by Louise's for more than a medical consult.
2. We see Jaime in college, so he's still around and getting ready to join the police force.
3. We don't have any arguments about Roarke working on the case--as he's practically an adjunct member of the e-squad.
The language (and use of the F word) was everywhere in this book. Even the 90 year old grandma was dropping the F-bomb. It's a bit over-the-top for me at this point. It's just too much language. The crimes are also much more savage, and the motive this time was really weak. The only way I'd have bought the murderer's motive is if the child had been dropped on his head as a small child.
The theme is also repetitive: We are more than a product of what are parents tried to make us... But the murderer in this book isn't! Like Steve Audrey in Sommerset's mystery, the murderer has been groomed and persuaded to murder because a parent encourages the retribution. This isn't "normal" for murderers in "real-life." BTK and Unibomber each had normal families, normal siblings, and weren't groomed to become serial killers by their mother or their father!
I guess I'm ready for Eve to move past the father/mother/mold/made conflict and ready to embrace something less repetitive. I'll buy the next book---as I'm madly in love with Roarke and Eve---but I'm ready for something new. The old is just old for me. If CSI can find two new crimes each week (and in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami!) I'm pretty sure Eve can find another kind of murder to investigate!
1. Does every murderer need to be from a serial killer? Don't murderers only ever commit one murder?
2. Why would murderers always feel driven to have the same initials? (She has used this over and over and over again.)
3. Why are pocket PC's completely untraceable?
4. Do we need another mystery where a parent is urging a child to commit a massive murder? (She's done several already!)
5. Does every crime have to relate to Eve's past, Eve's dad, and Marlena? Will something new ever happen to Eve and Roarke?
Now, the good parts of this novel?
1. Eve actually invited Louise over and played the matron of honor OK. She even dropped by Louise's for more than a medical consult.
2. We see Jaime in college, so he's still around and getting ready to join the police force.
3. We don't have any arguments about Roarke working on the case--as he's practically an adjunct member of the e-squad.
The language (and use of the F word) was everywhere in this book. Even the 90 year old grandma was dropping the F-bomb. It's a bit over-the-top for me at this point. It's just too much language. The crimes are also much more savage, and the motive this time was really weak. The only way I'd have bought the murderer's motive is if the child had been dropped on his head as a small child.
The theme is also repetitive: We are more than a product of what are parents tried to make us... But the murderer in this book isn't! Like Steve Audrey in Sommerset's mystery, the murderer has been groomed and persuaded to murder because a parent encourages the retribution. This isn't "normal" for murderers in "real-life." BTK and Unibomber each had normal families, normal siblings, and weren't groomed to become serial killers by their mother or their father!
I guess I'm ready for Eve to move past the father/mother/mold/made conflict and ready to embrace something less repetitive. I'll buy the next book---as I'm madly in love with Roarke and Eve---but I'm ready for something new. The old is just old for me. If CSI can find two new crimes each week (and in Las Vegas, New York, and Miami!) I'm pretty sure Eve can find another kind of murder to investigate!
04 November 2009
Alyson Noel's The Immortals Series
Once again, girl meets boy, boy turns out to be immortal, girl falls in love with boy, something more-than-mortal keeps them apart...
Alyson Noel's series starts with Evermore: The Immortals which I picked up with its sequel Blue Moon at Costco. The release in paperback at the same time for a reduced price was in anticipation of book 3, Shadowland coming in hardback on November 17, 2009.
The good? It's only a bit unique. It has elements of Moonlight (the vampire show from 2007) with the ex-wife being very Corraline in flavor; it has elements of Tempted by P.C. Cast. Evermore follows the Stephenie Meyer plot feature of being saved by someone who's not mortal, and the immortal is not all good, either. (Edward the perfect = Damen the Immortal... Damen's name harkens to demon...) The immortal theme was in the Cassandra Clare books (City of Glass). I enjoyed Evermore much more than Blue Moon. Evermore had a good start; I liked Ever's name; I wanted to know about the characters and what was unusual... But it definitely wasn't as clever as Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series or the promise of P.C. Cast's early House of Night novels.
The bad? See above. I felt like I could hum all the character's lines, and that I knew based on The City of Glass, bones, etc. where this was heading. It even had Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty in the idea of Summerland. The books also felt very short to me. I finished Blue Moon in under an hour. That's a lot to pay for only an hour! I know I read quickly, but 304 pages should be more than an hour's read! Also, there were scenes from Evermore that seemed to be lifted from other novels entirely. There was the beach showdown scene... and that felt very Twilight bonfire Jacob-vampire-werewolf to me. It reminded me of when Bella jumped off the cliff, too.
For me these books were "meh." I disliked how simplistic Ever was. She was very self-serving and often oddly stupid. I mean, in the end of Blue Moon, she makes a series of incredibly bad decisions. As I was reading it, I wondered, "Really? Who would make these decisions like this? Not anyone *I* know, and I know a lot of teenage girls."
I didn't sign up to have the next in the series rushed to me... so marketing failed in this respect. If I can pick the paperback up at Costco for another song... I might. They were an OK read for Halloween... but nothing to have rush-shipped to me. I'm still on the border for Tempted the new House of Night book in the P.C. Cast world. It has terrible reviews... mine to follow, if it falls into my lap!
Alyson Noel's series starts with Evermore: The Immortals which I picked up with its sequel Blue Moon at Costco. The release in paperback at the same time for a reduced price was in anticipation of book 3, Shadowland coming in hardback on November 17, 2009.
The good? It's only a bit unique. It has elements of Moonlight (the vampire show from 2007) with the ex-wife being very Corraline in flavor; it has elements of Tempted by P.C. Cast. Evermore follows the Stephenie Meyer plot feature of being saved by someone who's not mortal, and the immortal is not all good, either. (Edward the perfect = Damen the Immortal... Damen's name harkens to demon...) The immortal theme was in the Cassandra Clare books (City of Glass). I enjoyed Evermore much more than Blue Moon. Evermore had a good start; I liked Ever's name; I wanted to know about the characters and what was unusual... But it definitely wasn't as clever as Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series or the promise of P.C. Cast's early House of Night novels.
The bad? See above. I felt like I could hum all the character's lines, and that I knew based on The City of Glass, bones, etc. where this was heading. It even had Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty in the idea of Summerland. The books also felt very short to me. I finished Blue Moon in under an hour. That's a lot to pay for only an hour! I know I read quickly, but 304 pages should be more than an hour's read! Also, there were scenes from Evermore that seemed to be lifted from other novels entirely. There was the beach showdown scene... and that felt very Twilight bonfire Jacob-vampire-werewolf to me. It reminded me of when Bella jumped off the cliff, too.
For me these books were "meh." I disliked how simplistic Ever was. She was very self-serving and often oddly stupid. I mean, in the end of Blue Moon, she makes a series of incredibly bad decisions. As I was reading it, I wondered, "Really? Who would make these decisions like this? Not anyone *I* know, and I know a lot of teenage girls."
I didn't sign up to have the next in the series rushed to me... so marketing failed in this respect. If I can pick the paperback up at Costco for another song... I might. They were an OK read for Halloween... but nothing to have rush-shipped to me. I'm still on the border for Tempted the new House of Night book in the P.C. Cast world. It has terrible reviews... mine to follow, if it falls into my lap!
08 October 2009
Blue Bloods Book 4: The Van Alen Legacy
I recommend this book as the best of the Blue Bloods books. It's too short... and the next one is hard to wait for. Fast plot, good developments, good romantic evolution, and good future set-up. We even got somewhere with Charles and Allegra, Schyler & Allegra, and Bliss & Allegra! Finally!!
05 October 2009
The Hunger Games--It's SOOO Popular (with good reason!)
Sweeping the nation, on the NY Times Bestselling List (Children's books) The Hunger Games has spent 54 weeks topping the charts, eclipsed only by Catching Fire, it's sequel. Any review at this point is virtually superfluous. The books really are good reading; the violence, concept, and other science fiction are very current. There's a focus that feels very real-world oriented (global warming replaced by hunger, famine, and then localized gluttony. Much like obesity in America today.)
The novel is dystopian, so there's a futuristic slant, but like good science fiction, the idea of the "Hunger Games" is a combination of Survior meets The Olympic Games meets Big Brother. It feels entirely current though the plot is as old as the Roman Colosseum.
I recommend The Hunger Games. I was compelled to read both books back-to-back far into the night. I'll be one of the first readers when book 3 comes out. I'm on Team Peeta...
From the New York Times Bestselling List this week:
This Week | Weeks on List | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of "The Hunger Games" returns. (Ages 12 and up) | 3 |
| 2 | THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up) | 54 |
14 September 2009
Ranger's Apprentice, Book 6
We have enjoyed these books by Jonn Flanagan. Book six starts where book 5 left off. We have a more-adult Will Treaty, Alyss and Horace besieging the castle at Mackindaw where Alyss is held captive.The plot moves along well, and the characters are likeable. It took me 2 chapters to remember all that had happened before in book 5, so I suggest a quick review of that book before reading this one.
Will and Horace do quite a bit of needling each other and they have brief arguments, very indicative of a long-term best-friendship, especially one under pressure. I enjoyed Will and Alyss as they were apart the entire book, but their relationship still moved forward. This book is on a grades 4-8 level, and the book is not "mushy-mushy" at all. It does deal with saying "I love you"--and how that might complicate things between friends (especially Will/Horace/Evanlyn). The book has a great resolution, and does not set-up events in Book 7. Book 7, Erak's Ransom, is going to take place in the years before books 5 & 6.
Ranger's Apprentice has already been released in Australia, and books 7-10 will come out in the United States within the next year. They are being released at a pace of about 4 months apart. They are in hardback in the US, where in Australia, their original print was in paperback. Happy reading!
Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles
This weekend, I read Beyond the Spiderwick Chronicles an interesting follow-up to the original Spiderwick Chronicles.The books were fast paced, dealt with giants, hydras, and combined families, and they were a very quick read. The characters were all likeable--no villans in the bunch--and all were important. There weren't any extraneous characters, and the plot kept moving along in creative paths.
The Grace kids make their appearance, and the previous Spiderwick books and plot are part of this book. It's assumed by the writers that you've read the other series.
I finished these 3 in about an hour and 15 minutes. They were a light snack on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
11 September 2009
A Run of Bad Fiction?
The good news is that this book isn't in stores near you, right now. However, because it's James Patterson, and his Maximum Ride series is now at book 5, this series will also sell.I disliked this book to an enormous degree, probably out of perspective for the sheer pique I felt having wasted my time reading this book. Following on the heels of Anthony Horowitz and the Alex Rider books, Daniel X is not a spy; he's an alien hunter. In a story equal parts Men in Black meets James Bond meets Spiderman, Daniel X is just too much of everything and not enough believability.
James Patterson and partner stretch the "willing suspension of disbelief" in so many ways, with so many short, choppy chapters and numerous cliches, easy to guess plot twists, and enough puking and bodily fluid references to truly emphasize that this is a book written for late elementary school boys, that the book is virtually unenjoyable for a normal read. The last 3 of Patterson's books for 'tweens have been so "global warming"-"Earth's in Peril"-mongering that there's little plot and a whole lot of scare tactic. Even in this book, about aliens, a world JUST like Earth has been destroyed and left behind as metal, all life gone. It's just too much.
I won't be reading about Daniel X again. If you want a GOOD book, with a similarly special 'tween who's out to save the world, read Brandon Sanderson's Alcatraz series. That's a world worth saving, a hero worth knowing, and a plot worth laughing about. Definitely skip Daniel X, unless you need a guilt trip and time spent with Al Gore. In fact, skip Daniel X, and just go looking for Gore on DVD. You'll have saved time and effort.
05 September 2009
Catherine Coulter, Knockout
This is the 13th book in this series with Dillon Savich and Lacy Sherlock, and Amazon.com readers give it a measley 3 stars. If I hadn't been loaned this book, I definitely wouldn't have picked it up. I remember the last time I read this series (TailSpin) that I had been disappointed with the cookie-cutter characters and numerous repetitive cliches. I also tire of the same-old references to MAX, Sean, and their dog. What once was amusing, has stopped amusing me after 13 times.I really enjoyed The Maze and I thought that several others in this series had good plot, romance, and action. This book fell ridiculously flat, and the characters were static. Even the "romance" between the sheriff and mother of the adorable Autumn (who was the only round character in the book), wasn't a romance. It was an emotional attachment that was hardly romance. Absolutely no sparks or chemistry. Even Savich and Sherlock were simply partners.
What was truly bad about this story is that we were back to woo-woo-voo-doo and mind-games. It felt more X-Files than FBI. At book 13, I've also stopped feeling the FBI focus now that the stories are taking place in small towns. I often question, "Why is the FBI involved here?"
This was not Catherine Coulter at her finest. Her funniest, most romantic book was definitely The Sherbrooke Bride. It also had a bit of fantasy/ghosts, but The Bride series had true laugh-out-loud characters. However: stretching that series to 13 would also have made the characters cliche and campy.
This is a "meh" for me. It's light, adult level reading, and the characters are flat. There's a lot of action, adventure, and movement in the plot, and it does feel a bit like Numb3rs in the rotation of the story. If you choose to read, do so from the library. Don't waste your funds on the $20 hardback.
04 September 2009
The Warrior/Wizard Heir
Yesterday, I read The Warrior Heir by Cinda Williams Chima. I had previously read The Wizard Heir before I realized it was book 2 in the series.The Warrior Heir is young adult reading, in the middle school grades, and is interesting and creative fantasy. While the plot is not terribly original, the characters and plot unfold in a readable, accessible way.
I enjoyed The Warrior Heir more than The Wizard Heir, but both books combined make me want to read The Dragon Heir, the last book in the series.
These books are highly rated on Amazon.com and I recommend them for light, enjoyable reading. You can buy a boxed set at Amazon, and that's what I'll be getting my nephew for his birthday.
31 August 2009
Since School Started...
I haven't had much time to read since school started, and the two books I have read were history books (not much in the way of average, casual reading).The first was called The Freemasons. I enjoyed the book, and it did give me more insight into people who became masons, why, and when, but it was often more a book of lists and political machinations verses a good, solid history. It was an OK book for me... not a "pick this book up immediately."
It was not what I expected. No big insights or references to what happens, even when they "detailed" the Scottish Rite, it was who invented it, n
ot what it means.
The second book I read was hugely interesting. It was Lost Christianities. Ehrman took a look at many, many different things, and he made all of it interesting. There were quotes, and there were really good notes (and they made for excellent reading).
Ehrman also looked at motivation and orthodoxy vs. heretics. I felt like I had made the 400 year journey of Christianity, texts, and modern discovery. I really enjoyed hearing about how the Biblical canon came to be, and what drove it. Definitely recommend for those who like the idea of multiple texts creating multiple meanings on the same topic.
11 August 2009
Wicked... Not Recommending!
Not to be confused with Wicked, now a popular Broadway musical, this series is a collection of dark magic, sacrifice, goddess, and Wicca worship. I found parts of these books to be disturbing and gruesome.
Not even the love story of tormented lovers separated by hundreds of years redeemed these books for me. I found the characters exceptionally hard to like, the plot blundered on, and it wallowed in witches, warlocks, and a mish-mash of voudon, Native American Shamanism, and any conceivable type of magic.
There seemed to be no redeeming characters, and the books always ended unresolved.
I definitely do NOT recommend these books. Read them at your waste of time...
Summer Reading
This summer I read The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare, picking them up at Costco. The recommendation on the front was from Stephenie Meyers, and with the run-away success of Twilight at both the Teen Choice and MTV awards, I knew her endorsement would be key.
This series is very much a hero journey. We have Jace and Clary, who are divided by circumstance despite their love for one another. The book brings forth all sorts of characters, settings, and situations, including war and some violence.
In typical fashion, there are twists and turns along the way, but the world is saved, and through a delightful plot twist, it ends happily ever after. I definitely recommend these books to those who read and enjoyed The Twilight Saga. These books are very much in the same vein, and are better written.
Happy reading!
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