Wednesday, January 30, 2008
paperbackswap
So last night I joined www.paperbackswap.com in another attempt to try and save some money (the library and used book stores and amazon being the other attempts). Basically with paperbackswap you list books that you own that are in good condition that you don't want anymore. When other members find a book that they want that you posted they request it. You send it to them, and pay for postage. But for every book you send you get one credit. Also, when you post 10 books (the first time) you get 2 credits to start. One credit buys you a book from someone else. And the person you receive your book from pays for shipping the book. All you end up paying for is to ship books you send out. Pretty neat, huh? Well I scoured my bookshelves and found about 20 books that I dislike and don't really need to keep around. So last night I listed them and today I am shipping THREE books out and I just checked my email and found FOUR more requests for my books. Wow. My plan was to be a member until I get rid of the books I don't want, but that may not last too long. We'll see. Anyway, I'm really excited to get my books I ordered and soon I'll be able to get SEVEN more!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
yay!
So, I'm a little late on this, but the title and release date of the next book in the Inheritance series has been released. Brisingr follows Eragon and Eldest written by Christopher Paolini, and will be released on September 20th! Yay! At Amazon there is a little video from the author which, while riddled with jump cuts tells how originially this was set to be a trilogy with Brisingr being the last book. But in writing the book he decided it was too long and decided to split it into two. So now it will be a "cycle." I'm not sure how I feel about this, on one hand it's kinda exciting cause I really like these books. But on the other, I don't want the book to just end in the middle of something. I don't want it to be a huge cliffhanger. But I'm excited for the book to come out anyway, except I'm going to need to re-read the other 2.
Bud, Not Buddy/ The Black Cauldron
Someone at work commented on how recently the majority of the books I've been reading have been kids books. Sadly I realized that this is true, mainly because the "adult" books I really want to read I want to buy, and I'm trying to save some money by reading library books. So I've basically been reading Newbery winners and such. Although, considering the last "adult" book I read was Beloved and I read it last weekend, in perspective to how much normal people read, that's pretty good. Anyway, the past few days I read another Newbery winner and a Newbery Honor Medal (only because it was the next in the series leading up to a Newbery Medal).
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. Won the Newbery Medal in 2000.
This is about Bud who, after his mother dies is placed in an orphanage. Bud never knew who his father was but he always had a suspicion that he was a musician after seeing his mother react to fliers advertising this jazz band. After Bud gets into trouble in a foster home he decides its time to go and find his real father. This book was so good. It was very entertaining. It takes place during the Depression and you can tell that while Bud has an idea of the Depression (he knows there's not enough food and beds for everyone) but he doesn't have a good idea of how bad everything really is. During the book he encounters a Hooverville, he tries to hop on a train and decides to walk from Flint, MI to Grand Rapids. It was interesting to read about the Depression, but it wasn't boring with Bud's crazy ideas. I also liked how 2 of the main characters were based on the authors grandparents. Definitely a good book to read. Also to note, in addition to his Medal winner in 2000, Curtis received an Honor Medal in 2008 for Elijah of Buxton and in 1996 for The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963.
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander Newbery Honor Medal in 1966.
The Black Cauldron is the 2nd book in The Chronicles of Prydain. This one continues the adventures of Taran and his friends while they are searching for the black cauldron so they can destroy it before Arawn gets it. I'll spare you the details though. Man, was this book painful to read. At the end of The Book of Three I thought for sure that Taran had grown some, that he wouldn't be so annoying and try to keep all the glory for himself. I was wrong. Two chapters into this book I hated him once again. I really wanted him to crawl into the cauldron to destroy it. The main reason I started reading this series was to read The High King, which won the Newbery Medal. I've heard from other people that you can read just the last book and it will still make sense, I may not be able to make it through the next 2 books, especially Taran Wanderer. I may have to just skip to the last one.
Newbery Books Read/Out Of: 38/86
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis. Won the Newbery Medal in 2000.
This is about Bud who, after his mother dies is placed in an orphanage. Bud never knew who his father was but he always had a suspicion that he was a musician after seeing his mother react to fliers advertising this jazz band. After Bud gets into trouble in a foster home he decides its time to go and find his real father. This book was so good. It was very entertaining. It takes place during the Depression and you can tell that while Bud has an idea of the Depression (he knows there's not enough food and beds for everyone) but he doesn't have a good idea of how bad everything really is. During the book he encounters a Hooverville, he tries to hop on a train and decides to walk from Flint, MI to Grand Rapids. It was interesting to read about the Depression, but it wasn't boring with Bud's crazy ideas. I also liked how 2 of the main characters were based on the authors grandparents. Definitely a good book to read. Also to note, in addition to his Medal winner in 2000, Curtis received an Honor Medal in 2008 for Elijah of Buxton and in 1996 for The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963.
The Black Cauldron by Lloyd Alexander Newbery Honor Medal in 1966.
The Black Cauldron is the 2nd book in The Chronicles of Prydain. This one continues the adventures of Taran and his friends while they are searching for the black cauldron so they can destroy it before Arawn gets it. I'll spare you the details though. Man, was this book painful to read. At the end of The Book of Three I thought for sure that Taran had grown some, that he wouldn't be so annoying and try to keep all the glory for himself. I was wrong. Two chapters into this book I hated him once again. I really wanted him to crawl into the cauldron to destroy it. The main reason I started reading this series was to read The High King, which won the Newbery Medal. I've heard from other people that you can read just the last book and it will still make sense, I may not be able to make it through the next 2 books, especially Taran Wanderer. I may have to just skip to the last one.
Newbery Books Read/Out Of: 38/86
Sunday, January 20, 2008
gotta love the weekend
You gotta love doing nothing at work, as it is the weekend I have nothing to do (cause Ignite now does my job) so I've been reading like crazy. Today I read 2 more books, The Book of Three and Young Zorro: The Iron Brand.
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
So this is the first book in The Chronicles of Prydain, and seeing as how the last book in the series, The High King is a Newbery winner I figured I'd read the whole series, and seeing as how I usually like fantasy-quest type books, it was probably a good decision. Anyway, this book is the story of Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper who, when the famous pig gets out tries to chase it down, runs into Prince Gwydion and joins him on his quest (which more or less is the same as Taran's). Overall, it was a pretty interesting book. Taran is obsessed with being a hero and that often gets him into trouble, but over the course of the book he becomes better at thinking before he acts and not trying to take credit for everything (but he is still kinda annoying). Overall, I think it is a good start to a series, but I'm curious as to what will happen next.
Young Zorro: The Iron Brand by Diego Vega (but really by Jan Adkins)
So I've been in love with Zorro since I was a kid watching the tv show late at nights on Disney Channel (ah the Disney vault). And then recently I stumbled upon the book Zorro by Isabel Allende which is mostly about how Zorro became Zorro, and all the movies are in my Netflix cue. So of course I'm looking for more books on Zorro (including possibly graphic novels, crazy). Anyway, I saw this book at Joseph-Beth and decided to check it out, it being based on the novel by Allende. This tells the story of Diego and Bernardo (his milk brother) living on the de la Vega ranch and learning to become vaqueros. Many of their cattle have mysteriously disappeared as well as many talented craftsmen, so Diego and Bernardo set to try and solve the mystery as to what happened to them (the main clue in this being an iron brand, hence the title). Overall, it was a pretty simple story, and somewhat interesting. It didn't really have any of the antics that a normal Zorro story would have, but he is a teen in this book. I probably would've liked it more it I were a ten year old boy. Maybe. There wasn't a whole lot of action/swordfighting and such in it, but there were several pratical jokes that were mildly amusing. But one part I really didn't like was when Diego is preparing for a huge ball and he learns that Bernardo will not be permitted to attend the ball, instead will wait outside with the servants (as that is technically what he is). Bernardo finds Diego crying by the pool. Now, I'm no 15 year old vaquero preparing to inherit a ranch but I do know that seeing one cry is a very rare event. I just don't believe he would be sitting by the pool crying. I would say, if you're a ten year old boy, read this, if not you're better off reading Allende's novel to get a good idea of what Zorro was like before he became Zorro.
Newbery books read/ out of: 37/86
The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander
So this is the first book in The Chronicles of Prydain, and seeing as how the last book in the series, The High King is a Newbery winner I figured I'd read the whole series, and seeing as how I usually like fantasy-quest type books, it was probably a good decision. Anyway, this book is the story of Taran, the Assistant Pig Keeper who, when the famous pig gets out tries to chase it down, runs into Prince Gwydion and joins him on his quest (which more or less is the same as Taran's). Overall, it was a pretty interesting book. Taran is obsessed with being a hero and that often gets him into trouble, but over the course of the book he becomes better at thinking before he acts and not trying to take credit for everything (but he is still kinda annoying). Overall, I think it is a good start to a series, but I'm curious as to what will happen next.
Young Zorro: The Iron Brand by Diego Vega (but really by Jan Adkins)
So I've been in love with Zorro since I was a kid watching the tv show late at nights on Disney Channel (ah the Disney vault). And then recently I stumbled upon the book Zorro by Isabel Allende which is mostly about how Zorro became Zorro, and all the movies are in my Netflix cue. So of course I'm looking for more books on Zorro (including possibly graphic novels, crazy). Anyway, I saw this book at Joseph-Beth and decided to check it out, it being based on the novel by Allende. This tells the story of Diego and Bernardo (his milk brother) living on the de la Vega ranch and learning to become vaqueros. Many of their cattle have mysteriously disappeared as well as many talented craftsmen, so Diego and Bernardo set to try and solve the mystery as to what happened to them (the main clue in this being an iron brand, hence the title). Overall, it was a pretty simple story, and somewhat interesting. It didn't really have any of the antics that a normal Zorro story would have, but he is a teen in this book. I probably would've liked it more it I were a ten year old boy. Maybe. There wasn't a whole lot of action/swordfighting and such in it, but there were several pratical jokes that were mildly amusing. But one part I really didn't like was when Diego is preparing for a huge ball and he learns that Bernardo will not be permitted to attend the ball, instead will wait outside with the servants (as that is technically what he is). Bernardo finds Diego crying by the pool. Now, I'm no 15 year old vaquero preparing to inherit a ranch but I do know that seeing one cry is a very rare event. I just don't believe he would be sitting by the pool crying. I would say, if you're a ten year old boy, read this, if not you're better off reading Allende's novel to get a good idea of what Zorro was like before he became Zorro.
Newbery books read/ out of: 37/86
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Earth Giant/ Beloved/ The Princess Diaries VIII
The Earth Giant by Melvin Burgess
I'm still trying to figure out if this is the same Melvin Burgess that wrote Smack, but I don't think it's likely. The Earth Giant is about a giant who has been sleeping in the earth for thousands of years waiting to return to her home planet. After a wind storm rips up the tree she was hiding beneath, seven year old Amy finds her and has to help her get home. I enjoyed this book, I thought it was cute. It's really a simple story about a giant trying to get home and a little girl who is trying to help her get home, but in doing so is forced to keep secrets from everyone, including her older brother. It's not a book I would read often, but the story was sweet, and I felt Danny's pain when Amy wouldn't tell him where she kept sneaking off to, and the shock he got when he discovered her secret.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
This book is number 7 on the 100 Best Books list I have (which can be found here). Beloved tells the story of Sethe and Denver following the Civil War. It basically is about the scars Sethe still carries from slavery and from losing her baby, Beloved. I'll admit this book was kinda confusing, I mean it was interesting, but the narrator switched a lot and the changes from past to present back to past happened a lot. But I think Morrison did a good job of showing how troubled one is following slavery, how just because slavery is illegal doesn't mean all the problems associated with it go away. It was also heartbreaking reading about the baby Sethe had lost, and how it changed her when the ghost of Beloved came back. I had some trouble reading this, it was a little difficult in places, but I can see how it made it's way onto the 100 best books list. It definitely has a strong message to pass on.
Princess Diaries VIII: Princess on the Brink by Meg Cabot
What can I say, there are several books that I enjoy reading that are so called guilty pleasures, chick-lit, if you will (although more like teen chick-lit). But whatever, I've read all the Princess Diaries books, and others by Cabot and have enjoyed the majority of them (although it seems like sex takes the main stage in some of the latest books I've read by her). I loved the first 6 Princess Diaries books, the 7th wasn't that great, and well the 8th was a disappointment. First of all, it's about Mia finally becoming a junior, but things, of course do not go as she would like. The main event in this book is Mia finding out that her boyfriend, Michael will be studying abroad in Japan for a year or so. In typical Mia fashion, she freaks out and tries to devise a plan for him to stay. I guess I was really disappointed in the fact that the WHOLE BOOK revolved around sex, about how Mia didn't want to do it yet but Michael did and she thought maybe she could get him to stay that way. And while Mia was purely against having sex until her senior prom (why?) she wanted to be updated on the relationship status of all her friends. I just got really tired of reading about "her precious gift" yea. I say thumbs down on this one. I hope the next one is an improvement.
I'm still trying to figure out if this is the same Melvin Burgess that wrote Smack, but I don't think it's likely. The Earth Giant is about a giant who has been sleeping in the earth for thousands of years waiting to return to her home planet. After a wind storm rips up the tree she was hiding beneath, seven year old Amy finds her and has to help her get home. I enjoyed this book, I thought it was cute. It's really a simple story about a giant trying to get home and a little girl who is trying to help her get home, but in doing so is forced to keep secrets from everyone, including her older brother. It's not a book I would read often, but the story was sweet, and I felt Danny's pain when Amy wouldn't tell him where she kept sneaking off to, and the shock he got when he discovered her secret.
Beloved by Toni Morrison
This book is number 7 on the 100 Best Books list I have (which can be found here). Beloved tells the story of Sethe and Denver following the Civil War. It basically is about the scars Sethe still carries from slavery and from losing her baby, Beloved. I'll admit this book was kinda confusing, I mean it was interesting, but the narrator switched a lot and the changes from past to present back to past happened a lot. But I think Morrison did a good job of showing how troubled one is following slavery, how just because slavery is illegal doesn't mean all the problems associated with it go away. It was also heartbreaking reading about the baby Sethe had lost, and how it changed her when the ghost of Beloved came back. I had some trouble reading this, it was a little difficult in places, but I can see how it made it's way onto the 100 best books list. It definitely has a strong message to pass on.
Princess Diaries VIII: Princess on the Brink by Meg Cabot
What can I say, there are several books that I enjoy reading that are so called guilty pleasures, chick-lit, if you will (although more like teen chick-lit). But whatever, I've read all the Princess Diaries books, and others by Cabot and have enjoyed the majority of them (although it seems like sex takes the main stage in some of the latest books I've read by her). I loved the first 6 Princess Diaries books, the 7th wasn't that great, and well the 8th was a disappointment. First of all, it's about Mia finally becoming a junior, but things, of course do not go as she would like. The main event in this book is Mia finding out that her boyfriend, Michael will be studying abroad in Japan for a year or so. In typical Mia fashion, she freaks out and tries to devise a plan for him to stay. I guess I was really disappointed in the fact that the WHOLE BOOK revolved around sex, about how Mia didn't want to do it yet but Michael did and she thought maybe she could get him to stay that way. And while Mia was purely against having sex until her senior prom (why?) she wanted to be updated on the relationship status of all her friends. I just got really tired of reading about "her precious gift" yea. I say thumbs down on this one. I hope the next one is an improvement.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Kira-Kira/ Criss Cross
So I figured I'd start my reviews this year with 2 Newbery Award winners I read, one I really liked, and one I didn't.
The first is Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata which won in 2005. This book is about a young Japanese-American family who moves from Iowa to Georgia when their family store closes. The family is doing everything to be able to buy a house and the family of 5 survives until the oldest child, Lynne falls sick. After Lynne falls sick Katie must try and keep the family together. I really enjoyed this book, told from Katie's point of view. The emotions Katie had were really present throughout the novel, you could really feel the pain she was going through and how so many responsibilities were piled on her shoulders. I definitely enjoyed this winner, I especially liked how the Japanese culture was present. When Katie's family was packing up the truck for the move to GA she says how her parent's felt safe and comforted when they had many bags of rice, all they needed to survive was rice. So Katie felt safe when they left their house because they had a lot of rice, she knew as long as they had rice they would be okay.
The other Newbery winner I read recently was Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins which won in 2006. This one was confusing and weird. I believe it was about people's lives interacting through the help of this necklace, but I can't really be too sure. I think it was meant to be sort of a coming of age story about 2 characters, Debbie and Hector. Overall I was not impressed considering I couldn't figure out what the plotline was. It dragged a lot and there were random illustrations all over the book. Maybe kids would enjoy it if they are just as confused as the main characters, but not me.
The first is Kira-Kira by Cynthia Kadohata which won in 2005. This book is about a young Japanese-American family who moves from Iowa to Georgia when their family store closes. The family is doing everything to be able to buy a house and the family of 5 survives until the oldest child, Lynne falls sick. After Lynne falls sick Katie must try and keep the family together. I really enjoyed this book, told from Katie's point of view. The emotions Katie had were really present throughout the novel, you could really feel the pain she was going through and how so many responsibilities were piled on her shoulders. I definitely enjoyed this winner, I especially liked how the Japanese culture was present. When Katie's family was packing up the truck for the move to GA she says how her parent's felt safe and comforted when they had many bags of rice, all they needed to survive was rice. So Katie felt safe when they left their house because they had a lot of rice, she knew as long as they had rice they would be okay.
The other Newbery winner I read recently was Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins which won in 2006. This one was confusing and weird. I believe it was about people's lives interacting through the help of this necklace, but I can't really be too sure. I think it was meant to be sort of a coming of age story about 2 characters, Debbie and Hector. Overall I was not impressed considering I couldn't figure out what the plotline was. It dragged a lot and there were random illustrations all over the book. Maybe kids would enjoy it if they are just as confused as the main characters, but not me.
hello there!
So I'm trying this new thing where I actually write reviews for books I've read, we'll see how it goes. Also, I'll try and keep track of the Newbery Award winners I've read (I'm on a quest to read them all!). And speaking of Newbery Award winners, the 2008 winner was announced yesterday. If you don't know much about the Newbery Award it is basically an award for the "most distinguished contribution" to children's literature, and it had to be published last year. The 2008 Award winner is Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village by Laura Amy Schlitz which I've never heard of, but sounds interesting. But more interestingly, I think was the Caldecott winner. The Caldecott Award is given for the best illustrations, which usually makes you think of a picture book.But this year the award went to The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick which I had heard was a contender for the Newbery Award. I've read The Invention, it's an amazing novel. It uses words and pictures to tell the story. You may read a few pages of text and then there'll be twenty pages of pictures. It's awesome. At 544 pages it's not the type of book I would imagine for the Caldecott medal. But it's definitely a unique book, I haven't really seen a novel set up that way, letting pictures tell most of the story. You should check it out!
For more information on Newbery and Caldecott winners you can go here
For more information on Newbery and Caldecott winners you can go here
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