Another Try

Here it goes, another go at communicating my recent readings of YA Lit. While it is true that my personal reading life has gone into hibernation (until further notice, or until I can't stand it any longer and pick up my recent treasure book), I must impart to all of you (or just to Natalie) the last few troves I dove through:

Well, I finished INKSPELL, the sequel to INKHEART, and though I think Funke has got it going on, I will admit the last few chapters, sadly, were unneccessary. Yup, I was already psyched about wanting to read the third installment, which is as of yet unnamed, despite the long ending.

The book, I'll say was great. Need I say more?

Then, I started SABRIEL by Garth Nix. It's about a necromancer and his daughter's plight to find him. Let's just say that the fantasy genre has taken a giant leap forward! It was (well, is, since I haven't finished it yet...) AWESOME! I can't wait to pick it up again and read the rest in the three part (or more) series.

YA Lit...I'll miss you...

Until summer break... (Or tomorrow)

Dawn

no more summer classes

No more! No more classes! I am so excited that I finally get to read what I WANT to read that I had a hard time deciding WHAT to read!!

First, I started with Laurie Halse Anderson's FEVER 1793, which was great.

Then, I read a short novel by Cynthia L. Smith called RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME, which was good, but I kinda lost the point throughout. It's for ages 10-14, so maybe that's my problem!

Now, I'm in the middle of Cornelia Funke's INKHEART. Okay, sure, I'm a few YEARS behind everyone else with this title, but I am absolutely fascinated with it! It is set in the 21st century and is about a single father who is a book binder (Meggie calls him a "book doctor"); something mysterious happens when he reads aloud from INKHEART, and their world is changed forever. Did I mention it's going to be made into a movie??! AND that it's a trilogy??! INKSPELL is the second installment. Someone else pick it up so we can chat about it!!!

Next on the list...the sequel to INKHEART, INKSPELL, and then...on to my bottomless library that is just begging to be read quickly before the fall semester sneaks up on me!!

Keep reading!

Love,
Dawn

you the champ, dawn

Just wanted to say that one can't blame you for not trying with regards to this blog. I think we were all pretty burnt and then we lost our mojo... Oh well.

My reading summer has taken a turn towards prepping for my job at Lansing High. Highlights: The Things They Carried and Into the Wild. Lowlights: Beowulf and Brave New World.

Anyone going to the SAVE workshop on Thursday?

ciao
chris

reading?

Hey, what are all of you non-summer class, non-seminar paper, non-20 pages to write, reading? Anything good? I've been keeping my ear to the ground (aka reading adbooks emails, but not responding or joining in).

Let me know if you find a really great one.

I read SPECIALS by Scott Westerfeld...sad that the trilogy had to end, but I guess it was hopeful!

Later,

Dawn

Summer II

Hi everyone,

In the midst of my second summer class, a comprehensive course in the Romantic poets, the younger generation (Keats, Shelley, and Byron), and suprisingly, I am LOVING it! I guess I don't remember too much from my survey course in Brit Lit II at BU, but it's like finding a new love I already knew. Keats, especially, is enjoyable.

I haven't been doing any reading outside of the requirements for the class...there's too much to do and I prize my sleep/relax time. But, I DO have an on-going list from ADBOOKS emails that I want to read! It is right here at the pc so I can jot them down....BTW, does anyone know how all of those NCTE people get such early copies of books that no one has even heard of? THAT would be so awesome!

Time to relax, and think about working...any good reads lately? I'll put them on my to-do list after Aug 9!!

Later,
Dawn

What I've been reading

Thanks to Natalie and Nancy for posting comments! It felt good to see other posts on this blog besides my own.

As for me, I am just finishing my first summer class (paper and final due Tues.), working, and trying to get reading in, while visiting family periodically. After finishing A NORTHERN LIGHT, I read ANGUS, THONGS, AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING, which I found hilarious, and can't wait to get more from the series...British humor is almost better than American!

Then I moved on to Jonathon Stroud's trilogy THE AMULET OF SAMARKAND, THE GOLEM'S EYE, and PTOLEMY'S GATE, all of which are in the Bartaemous(sp) Trilogy. It was GREAT! I passed it on to one of my co-workers who is a reading fanatic, and she is addicted to it! Glad to know I'm not the only one with that disease!

Then, I (finally) picked up TWILIGHT by Stephenie Meyer, and I could not put it down! (Chrissy, you were SO right about that book!) Yeah, vampires and love. But, Meyer takes such a drastic turn from the typical vampire story...you've got to check it out. Besides, it's at least a trilogy (NEW MOON is out in Sept., and ECLIPSE is out Fall 2007...with more to come, hopefully.). Check out her website at www.stepheniemeyer.com and you can read sneak peeks, and author bios...it's worth the twenty minutes!)...Oh yeah, lent that one to my sister... she's hooked!

Alright, since it was such a talked about book in Ad Lit, I read Joyce Carol Oates' SEXY, and almost found myself yawning in the beginnning. The middle and end picked up, and I liked the intriguing situation with Darren and his friends, and the confusion/dilemma he had about Mr. Tracy, and how totally homophobic high schools can be, but. The ending wasn't that great, without a resolution, and no hope of one since Darren seems to plan on leaving town for the summer to escape. Hmm. What did everyone who read this book think? I wasn't totally impressed.

And then back to sci-fi/fantasy for me. I read Scott Westerfeld's UGLIES, and can't wait for PRETTIES to come in the mail! It was such a good read; it was interesting and played on social stereotypes that got me to thinking about the real society that Westerfeld's commenting on. It is worth reading even if you're not into sci-fi. Check it out!

While I wait for PRETTIES, I'm reading the book I suggested for our next selection, Hartnett's SURRENDER. I'm only a couple of pages in, and I'm waiting for the hook to pull me in. It's not there yet, but the voices are new, with a lot, I mean, A LOT of imagery references weaved into almost every sentence. I'm wondering if she can't just SAY rather than imply the descriptions and such...maybe it'll change in the next hundred or so pages.

Alrighty, later all. I mean, later to the two people besides me reading this blog.

If you want to pick another book for the three of us to read (haha), post it and I will read it with you!

Dawn

Crazy busy

So I guess everyone is having a busy summer like I am. Since no one is listening, I can tell you all that I am exhausted after this father's day weekend, since my dad had a heart attack, and is miraculously fine, and scared the entire family to death as a result. We're still waiting for results from tests and such, but...we are all mystified. And relieved!

As far as the SBC goes, I hope that everyone is reading this summer. Read what you want. Read often. Read everything and anything, and I will too. If anyone wants to get together (your turn to propose it), I would very much like that. Our first summer class is over the 27th (we've read 7 books, so we ARE reading!!), but the second one starts the 05 of July...so pick a book soon so we can read during that break!

Read a lot!
Keep posting...hehe (you know I will!)

Dawn