Summer reads

Summer's almost gone, and there's so more to read! Susan, thanks for helping us start a dialog.

Nadine Gordimer is still my favorite read, but her slimmer books make me wonder about the difference between poetry and prose and how the lines have blurred.

Read for a sense of Africa as it was in colonial days, as the turmoil increased, and where some locales are now.
Great characterization through snippets of conversation, vignette, or collected thoughts.
Incredibly brief descriptive passages that evoke time and place.
Try one!

BLIND WILLOW, SLEEPING WOMAN
Short stories. Try for a real sense of short story from a different culture - Japanese essence, English /American form.

QUESTION:
Is anyone else concerned about the few books from any Man-Booker list avaiable through our county libraries?
What are others reading?

Harry Potter Party-Borders

Anyone, besides me, attending the Potter Party? The party will be lots of fun, plus you can pick up your reserved book at midnight.

No sleeping for me!

Harry Potter Mania

Have you re-read your Harry Potter series? I have. I recently re-read Order of the Phoenix just to freshen my mind for the upcoming movie. I have plans to attend this movie on Friday, July 13th early in the morning so as not to view it with former or future students. My favorite moments in Order surround Delores Umbridge, the High Inquisitor. Her character reminds me so much of members of my county's education administation, I swear that JK Rowling must have been hiding in my county while writing the book. The best part, in my opinion, is when the Weasley twins create a swamp and then fly off while telling Ms. Umbridge what they really think. I have dog-eared those 2 pages!

I have also re-read Half-Blood Prince. I am left, for the 3rd time, with the emotion of sadness at the passing of Dumbledore and the frustation of whether Professor Snape is in the Order or a Death Eater. I am 60% certain that he is a Death Eater, but the doubts linger.

One theory that a friend of mine has is that Snape and Dumbledore was using PolyJuice Potion and have switched identities. As much as I would like for Snape to have been the one to have expired, I am not too keen on that theory.

Well, we'll just have to read Deathly Hallows on July 21st.

Any Potter thoughts?

Kingdom Come by Jenkins & LaHaye

The final, final book to the Left Behind series. I am beginning this one today and am looking forward to reading the author's perspective on Christ's return to the new earth.

The Left Behind series of books has helped me garner a better understanding of the book of Revelations.

I can't wait to finish this one. Plus, I hope this is the final book, unless the authors feel it necessary to continue the story for a million years.

Interesting Reads?

Anyone reading anything interesting that could be shared? I just completed 2 works by LuAnne Rice (Crazy in Love, Secret Hour). Of the two, Secret Hour was the better one. Both, however, were read within 3 days and now I am waiting for some great suggestions.

Now, suggest away!

Ines of My Soul

This adult book is of the romance genre. Do not believe for one moment, though, of a paperbook Harlequin romance. This novel reads more like a historical journal with some romance thrown in to pull women into reading it.

The main character is Ines, a Spanish woman who leaves Spain to seek her husband (a cheating, abusive man) who has hightailed it to the "New World"-South America. Once in So. America, Ines learns that her husband is dead and decides to follow a warrior (Pedro Valdiva) as he conquers Chile.

While the plot is of a strong woman who is sharing her life's journey is interesting, the story is dry and I, personally, forced myself to finish it. I also skipped many paragraphs which do not effect the storyline at all. Sort of like a soap opera where one can stop watching for a year and can still catch up with the plot.

I would not recommend this book because of the dryness of the presentation. The topic was interesting, but the presentation was a bore.

What did you think?

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Written from the viewpoint of the Grim Reaper, the story is about a young girl growing up in Nazi Germany. At first, I thought: "great, another Ann Frank story". I was pleasantly surprised. The heroine, Liesell Memminger, in the story is a German girl who is living in a foster home. She has lost her brother to illness and her mother has placed her in foster care. Her father was Catholic, which gives the reader an idea as to why the mother gave her to child services.

The story was awesome since it is written by Death. The ending, though, needed some work. It seems that Mr. Zusak's publisher gave him a page limit so he quickly ended the story. Either that or Mr. Zusak is considering another book written by Death. Either way, the story's climax was well worth the read and a surprise, which I can't say that for all authors.

If you have an opinion about this book or any other, post it! I can't wait to read your postings!

Welcome to Read and Rave

As an English teacher in the public schools, I have the opportunity to read many genres throughout the schoolyear on many levels (grade4-high school) and I read numerous books (adult) during the summer.

This blog is for readers of all ages to rave, or rant, about books read. I hope to expand my reading by learning from you and your insights.

I hope to discuss books that I have read and learn about new books to read and books to avoid.

So, let's begin to Read and Rave!