Lynness: My January read

Well, I haven't actually read my January picks yet, but I have requested a few books and am eagerly awaiting their arrival at the library.

**Can I say that I just LOVE being able to browse our library system's extensive holdings via the 'card' catalog online and read reviews and summaries and then request that books be sent to the library branch of my choice and then return them to any branch!!!**

ANYWAY...I thought about a few of Rae's ideas like Garrison Keillor, Dave Barry, Douglas Adams- but they can all be just annoying if you aren't in the right mood; or Roald Dahl and Piers Anthony, both of whom I have read, but never really thought of as 'funny'...I do like Bailey White- I have Mama Makes Up Her Mind (and Other Dangers of Southern Living), but I wanted something different still.  So I decided to try The Egg and I (which will also work for February, but I don't know that I'll be able to find the movie...it's not something Blockbuster would be likely to have) and then I started thinking about how I've missed Mary Roach's articles in the Reader's Digest.  I decided to see if she had written any books and, lo and behold, she has!  I have requested Stiff- about human cadavers, decomposition, etc. and Spook- about the scientific search for the afterlife.  Yes, these are supposed to be funny books.  And, according to the reviews I read, seem to deliver.  I think these will work for me- the subject matter (at least for Stiff) is right up my alley, and her style (based on her RD articles) resonates with me.

Raehink: February read

Ah, February. Such a short and squat and totally meaningless month. Not even easy to spell. At least my crocuses (croci) and daffs will be up soon and a wonderful rainy storm has temporarily blown out our inversion smog. We could make it a romantic reading month, but we won't. Just because. I. Get. To. Pick. The. Books!

Your February assignment is to find a book that has also been made into a film. This task is not complicated at all and the genre is left totally up to you. The said title may be fiction or non, as you wish. Note that there are booklists galore online of this type. It shouldn't be too hard for you to find a title. Remember that most classics have been made into movies, as have many wonderful contemporary novels. Be imaginative and stretch yourself. Your reward at the end of the month is to watch the/a movie version of the book. Let us know how it compares. Don't cheat and just watch a Harry Potter movie or Twilight...find something you haven't read or seen before!

Happy reading!

Raehink: A Seemingly Impossible Resolution

After realizing that I would have to live to be about two hundred years old to ever finish reading all the books I own, I made a commitment not to purchase any more books this year. My two exception categories are books selected (beyond my control) for my book group here in Payson, and books required for my BGS degree. I've already made it three weeks!

The funny thing is that no one (and I do mean no one!) thinks I can possibly accomplish such a goal. So the gauntlet has been thrown down, the goal has been dutifully recorded on paper and here online, and I am determined to keep my end of the bargain. No buying of books for one year. Enough said.

Think I can do it?

Happy reading!

Raehink: My funny reads for January

I just finished four amusing reads for the January assignment. Three of them are by the author Celia Rivenbark. She is a newspaper columnist and lives in North Carolina. Her claim to fame is simply being a slightly tarnished Southern belle. I read her trilogy of silly essays called Bless Your Heart, Tramp, We're Just Like You, Only Prettier and Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank. They were just what the doctor ordered, although they do contain a smattering of four-letter words and a little scatological and slightly naughty humor. I just wish I had experience living in the South so that I could appreciate her words even more.

My fourth read was delightful and would make a good read for a book group. It's called A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel. Kimmel grew up in Mooreland, Indiana and was raised a by an "unbelieving" father and Quaker mother. She tells about her idyllic childhood in a small town with lots of eccentric characters. I am looking forward to reading her other book titled She Got Up Off The Couch and Other Heroic Acts from Mooreland, Indiana. Any of you girls who wish to write or record family history would benefit from reading this author. I was extremely satisfied with her words.

Happy reading!

Lynness: a few more ideas

I remember reading and re-reading Edward Eager's "Half Magic" and Isaac
Asimov's "Norby" books in elementary school. So if he's into fantasy
and sci-fi, they might be places to start. I also thought about the
Tennis Shoes among the Nephites books. I never read them all, but I
remember enjoying the first few.

Rae: Think Outside the Box Perhaps?

Lulu: Maybe try a Redwall novel (Brian Jacques) or an elementary Star Wars novel. Those might be less intense and scary and more in line with Reed's interests. I know we talked about animal stories too...try Old Yeller (which is intense emotionally, but not too scary) or Charlotte's Web (which still makes me cry). And even something funny like the Captain Underpants books might work. I loved reading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and Best School Year Ever to our kids. They were a mixed bag of ages at the time. And don't be afraid to make those librarians do some readers' advisory there in St George. That's what they are supposed to be doing!

Even though they tend to appeal to girls more, I agree with Abby that the Little House books might work for Reed. Especially if you can link it with some Dixie church history. I also remember my mother reading me some great stories about Joseph Smith when I was about Reed's age. I loved the story about his leg. Reed might really respond well to a story that is true rather than one that plays so much with his emotions and imagination. Just some thoughts...

Happy reading!

Rae: A Little Humorous Help

I can see that some of you are finding it difficult to think of something "funny" to read. Don't stress over this month's assignment, ladies. Almost every genre has funny elements...even murder mysteries. In fact, one of my favorite plots involved some birdwatchers and binoculars were the murder weapon! Just find something that has humorous elements in it, even if it's a children's or YA book.

Here are some authors you might try: Douglas Adams, Meg Cabot, Piers Anthony, Robert Benchley, PG Wodehouse, Roald Dahl, "The Egg and I" (old but very funny), Garrison Keillor, Daniel Pinkwater, Bill Cosby, Dave Barry and Bailey White, and John Mortimer.

And don't give up. Some things that strike one person funny won't necessarily do the same to you. Like Lynness, put it down and look for another title.

Good luck and happy reading!