Lord of the Flies

I recently re-read The Lord of the Flies since my son Kyle had to read it for school. My husband marveled at how long it took me to finish thinking that I didn't like the book, but it was attributable to the fact that this book is so dense and full of character development and intriguing story that I couldn't skim it for enjoyment.
I remember from the first reading of the book wondering about some of the details of the plane crash and the families of the boys who were stranded on the island, but I realized reading it now that there was a good reason for leaving those details out of the story. The boys all leave behind their lives completely, acclimating to life and the new hierarchy that develops on the island. It is intriguing how that hierarchy develops and changes and the boys allow all of the conventional constraints of their lives to fall away embracing what they are left with - their most primal instincts.

Virus on Orbis 1

When he was in 5th grade, I picked my youngest son up from school and he said the words that I'd long waited to hear - "Mom, we have to go buy this book!"

An author had come to speak to the kids at the school and he was so dynamic and excited about his book and reaching out to kids to try and get them interested in reading that his excitement was infectious enough to rub off on my son. As a reader, I have hoped for the day when one of my sons would want to read and when it came I was over the moon! We ended up having to wait a day before the stock of books got back to the bookstore, but our patience was rewarded when we got the book, it was signed.

The next year we went to a book signing and got to meet PJ Haarsma



- it wasn't well attended, but if there is another this year, I will make sure I bring every kid we know.

The book was great! JT is a kid traveling through space on a ship where all of the adults have died. Once the ship arrives, the kids start a four year stint of servitude to the Citizens of Orbis.

I have mentioned before that I like getting in at the end of a series so that I can power through and know what the heck is going to happen. We got in at the beginning here and it is the only time I really haven't minded. Book 3 is scheduled to be on the shelves on March 10, 2009.

The Twilight Saga

OOOOOOH movie coming out this week!
Where do I fall with this set of books? After having (almost) everyone I knew saying I had to read this book, one person lent it to me and it sat on my shelf for almost a year before I finally picked it up. I mean really, human girl falling in love with a vampire (did no one watch Buffy The Vampire Slayer?) it has been done!
So, I read about 30-40 other books first and when I ran out of everything in my house, it was a Sunday so I wasn't headed to the library, this was the only thing I had never picked up and I sort of got tired of feeling like it was screaming at me to be given back to Justyn every time I looked at the shelf - I thought what the heck, I'll give it a shot!
If you don't know yet the gist of the story - you must be living under a rock.
There were really no BTVS comparisons, other than the obvious - but here is what I liked:

1. Bella is pretty but not perfect. I think she is universally relate able to almost all young women.
2. Jacob (sorry Edward fans, I am more practical in relationships)
3. This is a youth book - geared toward girls but I know a couple of teenage boys who read and liked it - that it is not trashy with sex and foul language.

My friend's sister had a freak out about the popularity of the book because Edward stays in her room while Bella sleeps, but it didn't strike me as inappropriate material for young girls. Most of what they see on television and in school is far worse. In fact, Edward's control and desire to keep Bella safe and I'll use the term "whole" is sweet and an indication of true love and not the teen lust that many girls fall into. I think it gives a young woman a relationship to aspire to, one in which her boyfriend truly values her total worth.
I'll be in line at the end of the week to check out the transition it made to the movie theater but I feel safe in the assumption that it won't measure up to the mental canvas in my mind.

The Merchant of Death

If I am going to read a book series, I want to jump in at the end. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting a year (or so) to find out what happens next.
Happily, I found the Pendragon series just last year and had 9 books to read! I won’t tell you how long it did (or didn’t) take me to complete all 9, but I will say that I have no idea when the last book comes out and it is killing me!
This is a very good series - my 12 year old came kicking and screaming to the first book, but he is a firm fan now. Reading these books as an adult, I did enjoy the story and it kept me involved despite the inconsistencies and the fact that Bobby Pendragon rarely behaves his own age whether it is 14 in the first book or 17 in the most recently published one.
The stories are clean, and fun. The characters are likable and you will root for the good guys. I have to respect an author who chooses paths that I don’t see coming a mile away and let me say that doesn’t happen often. For the most part you can discern what direction the stories will take; however, there are some nice turns.
We got to meet the author last year at Jake’s school and if you are a fan you should know he is a really nice and likable man. The type of man you want to see succeed in his career. Which, yeah he is doing…..

What the Dickens

Are you kidding? I was kind of excited to give this book a shot. Rouge tooth fairy - secret world, magical birthday candles, Gregory Maguire does seem to have a corner on a subject matter that holds my interest. He loses it here.

When I read books like this, I wish I had the ability to just put them down and not finish, but I just can't. If you are (like me) at times a glutton for punishment, go ahead read the book.