Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Raehink: November Reading

Since November is the month that we commemorate our veterans, I thought we would read something military. You can read fiction set during any war or about a military family or person. Or you can choose non-fiction and read about war, a military campaign, or a biography. The possibilities are many. Read and remember those wonderful men and women who do and have served for freedom the world over.


I love this quote: People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men [and women] stand ready to do violence on their behalf. (George Orwell)

Hoo-rah!

And happy reading!

Raehink: Responses and Reading

Hey all! Glad to see some reading going on. I love hearing what you are reading.


Lynness: I have only seen that book in the bookstores. It seems to have a cult following and the author has now written a second spoof of some similar sort. Can't remember the title though. I'll be interested to see what you think. Maybe I could finally get into Jane Austen with it. Just kidding. I have such a hard time with her.

Abby: What are the things that Autumn has a passion for? Sometimes it works to find books that revolve around those same things. And it's amazing how many novels have been written around so many subjects. Perhaps she's more of a non-fiction kid. I was. As long as she IS reading, don't push too hard. It may make her not want to read at all. Just be consistent. For me, it was Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown that woke me up in about fourth grade. Ooh, and The Mad Scientists Club. Haven't been able to keep away from books since :)

Lulu: Your Turette's book sounds really fascinating. Our YW group read a book called Memories of Summer which dealt with schizophrenia back in the 50s (I think) before it could be treated well. I have such compassion for those who suffered odd disorders before we even knew they were disorders...sometimes I wonder how they endured such things.

Annie: I just finished a unit on banned books for my adolescent literature class. Had to write a couple papers on how I approached censorship in my own reading. I'm glad you've discovered the lists. When I was in high school I read just about every book on a list just because they had been banned. I really wanted to know what all the fuss was about. So often that's just what it is. Fuss. No real reason other than someone was offended and wanted no one to read that material. The other thing I found was that some of the "greatest" books really aren't worth much. They are considered great because they were banned or challenged and not because they are worthwhile books. It's such an interesting subject to wrap your head around. I always loved the fact that Grandma encouraged us to read lots of things and make up our own minds. She knew we had been taught right from wrong and that choosing good media material is an excellent way to exercise our agency and learn from the Spirit. Off my soapbox now.

I've been reading quite a bit whenever I can squeeze it in. I'm amazed (don't know why...) at how time-and-thought-consuming Relief Society is. But I love my calling. I've learned that it ebbs and flows, like the tide, and when there's a low tide I make the most of it and sharpen my own saw. How's that for some metaphors! I did go away to Moab for a couple of days to refresh and two people died while I was gone! I hope that doesn't mean I can't get away when I need to :)

I'm just finishing up Lemon Tart for one book group. It's a very light and fluffy culinary mystery and is written by a member of the Church. Entertaining but definitely not deep. I'm still reading about the Kennedy family and am about halfway through True Compass by Ted Kennedy. It's extremely interesting. I picked up a Sheri Dew book that Grandma had given me called No One Can Take Your Place. So far it's delightful. And I'm also reading Evidence of Harm which is about the supposed connection between vaccines and autism. When I finish it I will read a book that refutes that whole idea. I like to check out both sides of issues before I make up my mind.

We are in the science fiction unit for my lit class and I should finish up Starship Troopers this afternoon. It's been a difficult read for me because I don't normally enjoy that kind of novel.

Gotta go. Chela's here to go over the invitation list. Love to all.

Happy reading!

Lulu: My read, and then some

Lynness--I have a good friend reading Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. She said she got bored. That's all I know about that book! :)

For my October read, I read something suspenseful and definitely scary at times--The Hunger Games. I loved it. What an interesting plot; what straightforward but sometimes quite elegant (is that the word I want?) writing; what suspense! I will read Catching Fire (the 2nd in the series) as soon as I am done with what I am reading now.

And what I am reading right now is a book called Icy Sparks. It's about a girl living in rural Kentucky in the 50's--and she has Tourette's Syndrome. This is before it was "discovered", before any treatment for it was known. You can imagine that she was something of an outcast. But brilliant, sensitive, and desperate to do good and choose righteously. I would absolutely recommend it--but with something of a warning about language. Her episodes often contain cussing. But I felt it fit with the story, and that the author didn't abuse the opportunity to fill a book with swear words. I am loving this book. It has made me cry and laugh incredibly hard and loud.

Mom--Savanna sits still when I read her The Hungry Caterpillar. Thank you for sending that; she likes it a lot.

We went to the library on Saturday and found a couple of gems--Oh, Ducky! A Chocolate Calamity (by David Slonim) and While Mama Had a Quick Little Chat (my favorite of the two, by Amy Reichert).

Abby--I would say to maybe wait on HP, if you want to read them all straight through when you are reading them aloud to the girls. As you know, Reed is highly imaginative, which didn't serve him well with the first HP, which we chose not to finish--it just scared him too much. Maybe your girls will be totally different? Anyway, that's my 2 cents. 5 cents. :) Maybe Autumn is too young, but what about A Wrinkle in Time? Or Lyddie? Or A Little Princess? Or Nancy Drew?

Lynness Re: Book Suggestions and October read

Abby- What about something more girl-perspective:  Maybe the Little House books or  Caddie Woodlawn?  Maybe Anne of Green Gables?  Maybe Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm?  What about From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler if she likes mysteries, as she seems to.

I read The Graveyard Book in September, since I knew this month would be rough (it was), but I also reserved Pride and Prejudice and Zombies.  Crazy, huh?  I really have no idea what to expect, but the author said he retained about 80% of the original text.  I love P&P.  It and the Book of Mormon are the books I most often re-read.  Anyway- I wouldn't have had time to read it even if I had gotten it because I'm on a waiting list and it still hasn't gotten to me yet, so evidently it's popular.  Anyone else heard of it?

Monday, October 26, 2009

Book Suggestions needed and read-alouds we've read and will be reading

Ladies, I need some book suggestions if you have some. :D

Autumn reads very well but isn't really a bookworm. I know not everyone loves to read but part of me feels that's just because they haven't found the kind of books that "speak" to them! Is that a romantic/idealistic view or is it possible for everyone to LOVE reading?

She reads what she's required to read for school but other than that she doesn't usually choose reading over the other activities she has available in a day. If she has a Scooby Doo or Magic Treehouse book, she'll read that without my encouragement. And lately she likes re-reading some of the Roald Dahl books we've read. I read The BFG to her a long time ago and then Maddie read it to her this summer again. We found it at the library last week and she's re-reading it on her own. She did something similar with The Witches. I have no shortage of ideas for read-alouds for her and Heidi, but as far as reading on her own, I'm just having trouble finding things that are interesting to her!

In the world of read-alouds, we are reading Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events. Surprisingly (to me), they make for great read-aloud material. Both Autumn & Heidi are enjoying them. I have read them all before. We are starting book six tonight. Almost halfway through the series! I am excited to be done with the series so that we can move on to other exciting books. I read The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe to them a few years ago and they loved it, but now that they're older we're going to do it again and read the whole series. And I'm wanting to read Harry Potter to them but still undecided as to when I want to do that. Once I start, I don't want to stop and take a break and I think there's quite a jump in maturity level/scary stuff from book 3 to book 4. I'm also trying to decide if I should just wait on HP and let them discover it on their own. I guess if I do read it aloud, I can be pretty sure they'll read it on their own later - as evidenced by the way Autumn has been with the Dahl books.

Thoughts? Suggestions?