101 book list update…
In my 101 Things in 1001 Days list, my goal was to read 100 books in the 1001 days. I was going to keep the list on Library Thing like I did with my last list, but I just can’t remember to add them there. So I’m going to keep the list here.
Another of my goals was to review half of those 50 books, so if you see one you’d like me to review, let me know.
- “From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil Frankweiler” by E.L Konigsburg
- “Murder Boogies With Elvis” by Anne George
- “Mummy Dearest” by Joan Hess
- “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer
- “New Moon” by Stephanie Meyer
- “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” by J.K. Rowling
- “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” by Michael J Fox
- “Eclipse” by Stephanie Meyer
- “Freakin Fabulous” by Clinton Kelly
- “Breaking Dawn” by Stephanie Meyer
- “Sex in the South” by Suzy Parker (I went to college with the author. It’s at times funny, shocking and … well, more shocking.)
- “Some Day You’ll Thank Me For This: The Official Southern Ladies’ Guide to Being a ‘Perfect Mother’” by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays
- “The Sloppy Copy Slipup” by Dyanne Disalvo
- “Among the Hidden” by Margaret Peterson Haddix
- “Tin Roof Blowdown” by James Lee Burke (This one was such a good read, though painful at times. I read it last weekend - the fourth anniversary of Katrina’s march through New Orleans.)
Tagged with: 101 Things in 1001 Days • Books
book review… the “Twilight” series
One of my 101 Things goals was to read a 100 books and to review half of those. I can’t really see these books being reviewed one without the other, so I’m gonna go for the whole shebang. (Bearing in mind, of course, that I have no qualifications to review ANY book other than that I like to read. Is that enough?)
Now, you should know a couple of things first…
- I was loving some teenage love long before this series came out. I was watching sappy teen love stories way before HSM. Whenever Disney runs some old made for tv movie, Griff says, “Oh, cool, a new one!” “Um, no. I saw that before you were born.”
- I spent every Tuesday night for seven years watching “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” I own the box sets (most of the seven… I need to look into the others) so that one day, I can watch them again with Griff and then with Eliza. So I was confused a bit between the Joss Whedon vampire lore and the Stephanie Meyer vampire lore. I got over it.
One other thing… I hadn’t planned to read these books. But I’ve got a 10-year-old reading on an eighth grade level, and it’s an ongoing thing to find books for him to read that are both challenging and age appropriate. He asked me one night back in February if he could read “Twilight,” and I gave him my standard answer of “I don’t know. But I’ll read it and see.”
So I bought the first one on my trip to Arkansas to meet my niece, London, and I read it in a night. It was just so very sweet. Now, it’s not challenging. It’s not going to change your perspective on life, unless it encourages you to accept different people in different ways. If so, super. If not, so be it.
Griff asked me if I liked it and if he could read it. “Yes, and yes.” Oh, goodness, he was excited. I thanked him for wanting to read it because I wouldn’t have read it without the provocation, and I was very glad to have read it. And then he asked the most important question in his boy mind… “There were vampires, right? Was there lots of fighting? Lots of people die?” “Um, no. It’s more of a love story.” “A WHAT?! No, Mom. You got it wrong. It’s about vampires.” “Right. Vampires in love.”
I’ve now read all four, and he’s refusing to read any.
The first one is this lovely, tender love story between Bella and her Edward. I imagine it would be hard to dislike Bella, what with all of her insecurities and clumsiness and openness. And Edward, beyond Bella’s imagination, loves her completely. Isn’t that every teenage girl’s dream? To be loved beyond words by the most handsome, sophisticated, generous man imaginable? Come on, it’s that every grown up girl’s dream?
Now, the second book, “New Moon,” I didn’t love so much. I understand Jacob is important to the series plot, and I enjoyed Jacob in and of himself as well as his relationship with Bella. It’s an honest look at how friendships can go awry when one loves in one way and the other in another.
But, for me, the lure of the story was the dynamic between Bella and Edward, and there wasn’t much of that in the second book. (Luckily, it’s short, and you’ll soon be deep into book three.)
“Eclipse” was more of Edward and Bella, and it was more of what I wanted. As a mama, I appreciated Edward’s insistence that they keep their relationship at a certain stage physically. I didn’t care why he chose that route. If my kids are afraid of something horrid happening if they engage in certain acts too early, I’m ok with that, even if it might not be completely grounded in actuality. So sue me. I also sneak veggies into their muffins. I’m a mom. Work with it.
But, “Breaking Dawn” was where I really loved the characters the most. At that point, I’d developed favorites in the Cullen family, enjoyed various relationships outside of just Edward and Bella. And without giving away too much of the plot (go on… go to the library and put your name on the waiting list), the mama in me felt Bella’s choices. And I loved the final showdown with their enemies. Convincing and very true to each character.
Now, in Griff’s book reports, he has to give the book a number rating on a 1-10 scale. I’m not sure I like 1-10… too much free play for me. But on a 1-5, I’d give the series a solid 4. (And I won’t even say anything about how I liked the book because it was short. If I break him of nothing else this year, he’ll stop that.)
(And before you ask, I haven’t seen the movie yet. We’re having a DVD player mutiny in our house. One won’t spit out the DVD that’s in it now, and the other apparently sent its remote into exile. But yes, that sweet little Robert Pattinson is hot as heck, and I do feel a bit like a cougar thinking it. But to be completely honest, I said he was hot as heck back when he played Cedric in “Harry Potter” so whatcha gonna do?)
So, now. You know what I think. Tell me what you think.
Filed under 101 Things in 1001 Days | Permalink | Comments (5)Tagged with: 101 Things in 1001 Days • Books • Twilight
Books for my 101 in 1001 list…
In my 101 Things in 1001 Days list, my goal was to read 100 books in the 1001 days. I was going to keep the list on Library Thing like I did with my last list, but I just can’t remember to add them there. So I’m going to keep the list here.
Another of my goals was to review half of those 50 books, so if you see one you’d like me to review, let me know.
- “From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil Frankweiler” by E.L Konigsburg
- “Murder Boogies With Elvis” by Anne George
- “Mummy Dearest” by Joan Hess
- “Twilight” by Stephanie Meyer
- “New Moon” by Stephanie Meyer
- “The Tales of Beedle the Bard” by J.K. Rowling
- “Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist” by Michael J Fox
- “Eclipse” by Stephanie Meyer
- “Freakin Fabulous” by Clinton Kelly
- “Breaking Dawn” by Stephanie Meyer
- “Sex in the South” by Suzy Parker (I went to college with the author. It’s at times funny, shocking and … well, more shocking.)
- “Some Day You’ll Thank Me For This: The Official Southern Ladies’ Guide to Being a ‘Perfect Mother’” by Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays
- “The Sloppy Copy Slipup” by Dyanne Disalvo
- “Among the Hidden” by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Tagged with: 101 Things in 1001 Days • Books
What’s on Your Nightstand?
Over at 5 Minutes for Books, they’re doing a new carnival about the books we’re all reading. Now, they suggest taking a photo of your nightstand where you stack your books, but that’s way too personal for me. Geez, you’d see a baggie full of Sharpies, some recently finished but not yet mailed jewelry, a half empty (full?) Diet Cranberry Raspberry Snapple, and a some photos of me through the years amongst the books. No need exposing anyone to that, now is there?
But… it’s a fun idea. So, here goes… the books I want to read between now and this time next month.
1. “Savannah Blues” by Mary Kay Andrews - love the Weezie stories
2. “Eat, Pray, Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert - I’ve already started this one, but I’m hoping to finish it soon.
3. an unnamed insurance textbook - I was supposed to have read this (and tested on it) back in May. Obviously, I’m a teensy bit behind. I’d like to get this as close to finished as possible so that I don’t have it hanging over me during the holidays.
4. “Hatchet” by Gary Paulsen - this is the next book Griff’s gifted teacher is going to have them read, and I try to keep up with them.
Now, we’re also supposed to say when we read these books. Are they serious?! Um, while overseeing homework, after the kids go to bed, at the salon (oh, how I love those coloring appointments!). Snippets of time stolen from other things. Isn’t that how all moms read?
So, go read.
Filed under Most Everything | Permalink | Comments (3)Tagged with: Books • Carnivals • reading
Pardon me, do you have a frindle?
I’ve got a new favorite book. Or book among my favorites.
I read as much as I can… I’d read more if I didn’t have things like a job and kids. You can see what I’ve read lately in my I’m Reading page. I try to read as many of the books that Griff reads as possible, so we can discuss them and so I can have a good idea of what he’s thinking and absorbing.
I was putting all of the Sunshine State Books on my BookMooch list when I came across a book that I had seriously considered for Griff last Christmas. So I dropped it on my Wishlist, and it arrived in the mail today. I read it in less time than it took Griff to watch a “Mythbusters” rerun.
And it’s one of my new favorite books. I may have all the kids I know read it. I’ll give it as gifts, I’m sure. And I think everyone - whether you have a kid or not - should go check this book out of your local library, order it from BookMooch or Amazon, or both.
Go, Frindle!
Tagged with: Books • frindle • Sunshine State Books
