2 more good reads!

Oh, one more thing... I just read two more books this week that you might like. Firegirl by Tony Abbott was really good...it's the story of a boy whose life changes when a new girl comes to his class. It's a very short book and an easy read. Also, my new favorite (for the week) is Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. If you enjoyed the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder as a little kid, this is the more grown-up version and oh, so good! Hattie is a young 16 year-old girl who sets off to Montana to stake her claim on a farm- all on her own! I read this book in one sitting and wished there was more! If you try any of my suggestions this week, this is the one I would recommend the most!

Lines in the Sand

Hi. Once I finished reading The Falconer's Knot as mentioned in my last blog, I did a bit of research to find out more about Mary Hoffman. On her website ( www.maryhoffman.co.uk/)- she talks about another project she was involved in- the coordinating and editing of a book for young adults about war called, Lines in the Sand. Over 150 writers contributed stories, poems, and illustrations about war and peace. This collection is really interesting and eye-opening. I especially enjoyed the poem, "Counting", and the story, "The Butcher"- although not in a happy way- they really say a lot about war and it's toll. One positive thought to keep in mind is that all the profits from the publishing of this book, went to UNICEF( a world-wide children's relief organization) for the children of Iraq. Just something to think about.

The Falconer's Knot

Hi there! Having never posted to the book blog before, here goes... The Falconer's Knot by Mary Hoffman looked pretty promising for a book chosen right off the shelf. And after all, Mary Hoffman wrote the highly popular Stravaganza series, so how could I miss? This book is a mystery set in 14th century Italy during medievel times. It follows the lives of several characters, mostly a young nobleman accused of murder named Silvano and a young woman named Chiara. There is mystery, romance, and even art. I enjoyed the book and it was an easy read- maybe too easy and a bit silly. I had to finish it though- and find out whodunit! I hope you give it a try and let me know what you think. I will be posting more Mary Hoffman info later in the week, so stay tuned!

Famous Last Words

So Miles, the putz mentioned in my last post, actually had a pretty cool hobby, which was collecting the last words of famous people. For your enjoyment, I include a selection, hand-picked from the internet.

Pietro Aretine: Now I am oiled. Keep my from the rats.

Lady Astor: Am I dying or is this my birthday?

Alexander Graham Bell: No

Leonard Bernstein: What's this?

Johannes Brahms: Ah, that tastes nice. I thank you.

Luther Burbank: I don't feel good.

Lewis Carroll: Take away these pillows. I shall need them no more.

Anton Chekhov: It's been a long time since I've had champagne.

James Dean: That guy's got to stop. He'll see us.

Emily Dickinson: The fog is rising.

George Eastman: My work is done. Why wait?

Queen Elizabeth I: All my possessions for a moment of time.

Adolf Fischer: This is the happiest moment of my life.

Edmund Gwenn: Dying is easy. Comedy is difficult.

Oscar Wilde: Either that wallpaper goes or I do!

Pancho Villa: Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something.

General John Sedgwick, Union Commander, Civil War: They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist...

FDR: I have a terrific headache

Karl Marx: Go on, get out. Last words are for fools who haven't said enough.

Richard Feynman: I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring.

Looking For Alaska

Looking for Alaska by John Green (of An Abundance of Katherines fame) is actually the author's debut novel and, to be honest, it shows. I mean, it's a good book, but it's not AS good. I really didn't like any of the characters. Even the main character. I think we were supposed to identify with him, but really, he was kind of a putz. He just goes along with the crowd and doesn't think for himself, which I find really obnoxious.
However, this is one of those times when I wonder if not being a teenager is working against me. Because sometimes you have to be a young adult to enjoy young adults fiction and I find, somewhat to my chagrin, that I am just a regular adult these days.
You should not take my word for it on this book, though. Check it out for yourself and see if maybe you disagree.

Cecil Castellucci is the coolest ever!!!

I am totally into the books of Cecil Castellucci right now. When I grow up, I want to be her, she is that freakin awesome! (Yes, her name is Cecil and she is a girl. I don't know why.) She has written three YA novels:
Boy Proof
The Queen of Cool
Beige
and one graphic novel:
The Plain Janes

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be very hard, but I would pick the first one, Boy Proof. Boy Proof is about a girl named Egg, who thinks she is boy proof (and pretty much friend-proof, too), until she meets Max. Max helps Egg see that maybe she doesn't see things very clearly. There are lots of fun Hollywood and nerdy SciFi/Fantasy references that I really appreciated (being a nerdy girl from CA.)
The Queen of Cool is about Libby, a very popular girl who ends up befriending a dwarf at the zoo. Seriously. How cool is that?
Beige is the story of Katie, sent to live with her father, a punk drummer known as The Rat, for a summer. Katie feels pretty beige compared to everyone in this ultra-loud, ultra-hip punk scene, but maybe she is selling herself a bit short. Think old school punk, like The Sex Pistols and Black Flag.
The Plain Janes is sort of a post 9-11 story. How to deal when you aren't the person you thought you were.

If you want to know more about Cecil Castellucci (and there is lots more to know!), please check out her website: www.misscecil.com. She is totally awesome!

The Off Season

Hi fellow book bloggers: This is the sequel to Dairy Queen. In this novel, D.J.'s year is going well until tradegy strikes. If you have read Dairy Queen, this is a must read to see what happens.
I won't give anymore away!
If you've already read The Off Season, did you like the ending? Why or why not? If you were going to write a different ending for The Off Season, what would it be?

Dairy Queen

Hi fellow book bloggers: This is another great book to check out if you like realistic fiction....D.J. Schwenk is a Wisconsin teenager who has to take on the physical work of the farm after her father has hip surgery. She trains Brian Nelson, a rival quarterback from the other town's football team. Through him, she learns that keeping your thoughts inside you isn't always the best medicine.
Visit this link to get more information on Dairy Queen:
http://swan.sls.lib.il.us/search?/tdairy+queen/tdairy+queen/1%2C2%2C2%2CB/frameset&FF=tdairy+queen+a+novel&1%2C1%2C

Bears Books

Hi fellow book bloggers: If you like sports....especially football, and the Chicago Bears...you should check out Bears Roar: Meet the Men who put the Swagger back into Chicago Football (Y/796.33264 Chicago Bears.)

Another book you should check out is Stadium Stories Chicago Bears: Great Moments in Team History by Law Freedman. You can check out great moments in Bears History!



Don't forget to watch the Bears second regular season game-Chicago Bears vs. Kansas City Chiefs on September 16th at 3:15 p.m. Here's a link for the rest of the season games: http://www.chicagobears.com/team/schedule.html

An Abundance of Katherines

Another fantastic book that I read this summer was An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. The description in our catalog reads: Having been recently dumped for the nineteenth time by a girl named Katherine, recent high school graduate and former child prodigy Colin sets off on a road trip with his best friend to try to find some new direction in life while also trying to create a mathematical formula to explain his relationships.
This book is so funny! And it is full of footnotes. I know that footnotes sound like something that belong in a book you read at school, not a book that is for fun, but the footnotes are what make this book amazing.
An Abundance of Katherines also involves the final resting place of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination sparked World War I.
This book has some language that some might find objectionable. If you think your parents might object, then check with them first.
I know I am not doing this book justice at all with my description. But this really is a great book and totally worth your time. READ IT!

Summer Recap

Now that the summer season has come to its unofficial end, which coincides nicely with the start of the NEW book blog, I wanted to take a look back at all of the reading I did this summer. And also the things I didn't read. Do you ever notice that certain books just seem to be "winter" books. Books that are long and complicated, with lots of characters lend themselves more to curling up inside for a cozy reading session in a comfy chair. During the summer, I like books that are a bit more "fluffy". This is not to say that the books are somehow not as good. Just different.
In any case, my favorite books that I read this summer (besides Harry Potter, which we already devoted two months of the book blog to) were the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer. I would say this series is actually an all season read, but it is kind of girlie. I have been completely engrossed in these books all summer long. It was a good way to forget about the heat.
So, what did you all read this summer (besides Harry Potter)? Anything I should just drop everything for and start reading right now?