Monday, August 13, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Baby Lando
Kami just posted about a book and failed to mention that she had a baby last week. Congrats again on Lando's arrival, Kami Sue! He was huge--8' 14 and more than a week overdue. Fortunately, everything went well and Kami is feeling well enough to blog about books. :)
Howdy
Yes, I have read other Jules Verne books--I read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea when I was in 7th grade, and I think I read another one too. Anyway, I remember it being interesting for the story, but slow writing. That was a long time ago though. But the book was much longer than Around the World so maybe it did have a bit more depth to the characters. I put Little Britches on hold at the library. I read that too in middle school but I don't remember it at all.
Friday, August 10, 2012
80 days
I too read it awhile back and decided not to re-read it. I checked it out from the library but ran out of time. In terms of how I liked the book, I think I'm in the middle between Julia and Kami. I thought it was interesting, but it wasn't the best book I'd ever read.
I'm super excited to re-read Little Britches. Ralph Moody is one of my favorite authors. This year for school, I read his book about the Pony Express aloud to the kids. It was a GREAT story to read to my 9 year old son, and even had me in tears at several parts as I contemplated the incredible courage several of the PE riders had. I think I get more emotional when I'm reading aloud than to myself because I seem to cry over all sorts of stories that I read aloud. ;-) I highly recommend the book, as it taught me a lot about the Pony Express that I didn't know, and was an action-filled adventure story, to boot!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
ARound the WOrld
It's so funny to me how I can give a book five stars and then have someone give it a one. How is that possible?! Kami - sorry you were disappointed. I love this book! Maybe I just was in a quirky mood when I read it, but I just found this book delightful and funny and worth reading.
I did not read it recently for this discussion so I don't have concrete points to share (sorry, I decided last minute to be in charge of a girls book group this year and so have been reading ferociously for that trying to decide what books to read).
I do remember, however, thinking about the time element of the book. There was a theme on time running throughout the whole book that I found interesting and thought with a book group we could delve into the creation of clocks and how that has affected the way we live today (something I'm studying in other areas as well right now, actually). And really, I just thought it was so funny.
Have you read any of Jules Verne's other books? Are they dry to you as well? Just curious.
LOL
JULIA
I did not read it recently for this discussion so I don't have concrete points to share (sorry, I decided last minute to be in charge of a girls book group this year and so have been reading ferociously for that trying to decide what books to read).
I do remember, however, thinking about the time element of the book. There was a theme on time running throughout the whole book that I found interesting and thought with a book group we could delve into the creation of clocks and how that has affected the way we live today (something I'm studying in other areas as well right now, actually). And really, I just thought it was so funny.
Have you read any of Jules Verne's other books? Are they dry to you as well? Just curious.
LOL
JULIA
Friday, August 3, 2012
Around the world....zzzzzzz.........
Oh my goodness, how dry. Luckily it was short. I guess I'm character driven in the stories I like, and the main character in this is personified by his lack of any apparent emotion or reaction to anything. Ugh. The one saving grace was the last two pages, because they were at least romantic. I won't give away what happens though. And I find it funny that Utah and Mormons were one of the 3 places/people he actually spends time describing, I guess we're just that exotic. Hee. Hee.
Ready to move on to Little Britches? Anyone still reading?
Ready to move on to Little Britches? Anyone still reading?
Monday, July 9, 2012
New Book
Around the World in 80 Days--
Let's get some commentary this month...I have it on hold at the library, hopefully I'll get it soon.
Let's get some commentary this month...I have it on hold at the library, hopefully I'll get it soon.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
book talk
Ju,
thanks for weighing in. Josh and I actually discussed this on our long drive and decided at this point it was more about making sure our kids had the tools to make good reading decisions. We thought it would be particularly beneficial to tell them about the books we choose NOT to read and WHY NOT. I've had several of those opportunities lately.
We also talked about the difference between (to use DeMille's terms) whole, bent, and broken. I realized that what was bothering me about a specific book that I was thinking of was not what actually happened in the book, but the fact that it was subtly portrayed as perfectly acceptable.
And for the record - I did not let Hannah read Ender's Game! Josh did and I found out after the fact. I wouldn't have let her read it that young. ;-)
We all have different limits when it comes to books and movies. I just struggle, sometimes, and wondered if anyone has rules of thumb that they use. Now that Hannah is 14, I'm thinking most anything is not really off limits - she just has to use her own judgment.
thanks for weighing in. Josh and I actually discussed this on our long drive and decided at this point it was more about making sure our kids had the tools to make good reading decisions. We thought it would be particularly beneficial to tell them about the books we choose NOT to read and WHY NOT. I've had several of those opportunities lately.
We also talked about the difference between (to use DeMille's terms) whole, bent, and broken. I realized that what was bothering me about a specific book that I was thinking of was not what actually happened in the book, but the fact that it was subtly portrayed as perfectly acceptable.
And for the record - I did not let Hannah read Ender's Game! Josh did and I found out after the fact. I wouldn't have let her read it that young. ;-)
We all have different limits when it comes to books and movies. I just struggle, sometimes, and wondered if anyone has rules of thumb that they use. Now that Hannah is 14, I'm thinking most anything is not really off limits - she just has to use her own judgment.
oops
For some reason I got lost and got into Around the World in 80 Days and so didn't read the actual book club book. sorry. I'll join in on the 80 Days discussion (one of my favorite books...but my kids say I say that about all books I read). Ha!
So, as for Kelly's question (though she and I kind of talked about it a little bit ago)..... It's funny because I was surprised when Kelly told me she had her daughter read Ender's Game but was unsure about Hunger Games. When for me it was a lot easier to have my son read Hunger Games than to read Ender's Game. He read both and liked both...but they were introduced in flipped order. I agree with Kami and actually stear clear of modern adult fiction books because most of them (if not all) seem to push my boundaries.
I once had a friend tell me about a book and rated it. "It's definitely PG-13," she said. I thought that was funny. I think even our children are going to rate books differently than we might. I think it's not so much "a magical age" as it is "per child." I know my girls will definitely not be reading some of the books John has read at his same age because he has a maturity level beyond where they are. And, another thing to consider is the way in which the material is presented and the purpose of why it's presented. YOU know when it's put in there just to be there and not really as a major part of the purpose of the book.
Oh, and one other thing...how many times did you read a book, or start a book, and think, "Woah! That was not a good book to read. I shouldn't have read that" or "I'm not going to continue because it's too much for me"?? Our children are going to have that same experience with the books they read. There comes a point when parents don't "allow" their children to read so much as teach their children to listen to their own conscience of what is right and wrong in their reading. They will make mistakes. We may expose them too soon to some concepts (i.e. WWII harshness) and then regret it. But overall, if we are always providing them with good reading lists and materials from an early age, they will gravitate toward that which is good.
My ever so readily given opinoin on that topic. :-)
LOL
JULIA
So, as for Kelly's question (though she and I kind of talked about it a little bit ago)..... It's funny because I was surprised when Kelly told me she had her daughter read Ender's Game but was unsure about Hunger Games. When for me it was a lot easier to have my son read Hunger Games than to read Ender's Game. He read both and liked both...but they were introduced in flipped order. I agree with Kami and actually stear clear of modern adult fiction books because most of them (if not all) seem to push my boundaries.
I once had a friend tell me about a book and rated it. "It's definitely PG-13," she said. I thought that was funny. I think even our children are going to rate books differently than we might. I think it's not so much "a magical age" as it is "per child." I know my girls will definitely not be reading some of the books John has read at his same age because he has a maturity level beyond where they are. And, another thing to consider is the way in which the material is presented and the purpose of why it's presented. YOU know when it's put in there just to be there and not really as a major part of the purpose of the book.
Oh, and one other thing...how many times did you read a book, or start a book, and think, "Woah! That was not a good book to read. I shouldn't have read that" or "I'm not going to continue because it's too much for me"?? Our children are going to have that same experience with the books they read. There comes a point when parents don't "allow" their children to read so much as teach their children to listen to their own conscience of what is right and wrong in their reading. They will make mistakes. We may expose them too soon to some concepts (i.e. WWII harshness) and then regret it. But overall, if we are always providing them with good reading lists and materials from an early age, they will gravitate toward that which is good.
My ever so readily given opinoin on that topic. :-)
LOL
JULIA
Monday, June 25, 2012
heroes
Read Wings of Heroes for the second time. I'd forgotten that I'd read it already, until I got a chapter into it, and then I decided to keep going.
Granted, this book is not as hilarious as some of Peck's other books. However, one thing that I was enjoying about it was the nostalgic look at the 40s during WWII. I was particularly moved by the Dad and his conversation with the neighbor who lost a son in WWI. As Kami said, the repercussions of war echo throughout generations.
Another favorite theme was the idea of people looking out for each other and their families. Small examples such as blackout watch armband that gets made for Scooter (who they know will undoubtedly be tagging along) and the neighbors bringing over a dessert made with all their sugar ration when Bill comes home on leave reminded me that those sorts of thoughtful gestures are what make family out of a community - and it's such a beautiful, desireable thing! I think that quality is growing more absent in our lives.
Granted, this book is not as hilarious as some of Peck's other books. However, one thing that I was enjoying about it was the nostalgic look at the 40s during WWII. I was particularly moved by the Dad and his conversation with the neighbor who lost a son in WWI. As Kami said, the repercussions of war echo throughout generations.
Another favorite theme was the idea of people looking out for each other and their families. Small examples such as blackout watch armband that gets made for Scooter (who they know will undoubtedly be tagging along) and the neighbors bringing over a dessert made with all their sugar ration when Bill comes home on leave reminded me that those sorts of thoughtful gestures are what make family out of a community - and it's such a beautiful, desireable thing! I think that quality is growing more absent in our lives.
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