Booking Through Thursday: Books that make me sad

What’s the saddest book you’ve read recently?

(Is any body getting bored with this series of “recent” questions? Because I’m having fun!)

Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!

On principal I try and stay away from sad books. I read to make myself feel good an I cry enough IRL that I try and avoid sad books. I did just finish The Giver by Lois Lowry and it made me feel sad, but not sad (and boy do I need to learn precision of language). It made me feel something that I cannot yet define (I will try and define it when I write my review of it over the weekend). I also recently read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling and I wasn't sad this time because I knew what was happening but I certainly felt sad the first time I read it. Maybe that will have to qualify for this time around.

Fall into Reading 2009: Reading List

This challenge is hosted by Katrina at Callapidder Day and it is my first challenge for this new format blog. I am going to take it a bit easy and not do so many books and to double up on some books for the Banned Book Challenge. This is also my post for the What's On Your Nightstand?

My list:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

This is a re-read for me. It was one of my favourite books in high school. It is part of the Banned Book Challenge. I am not going to do so much of a review of this one as a discussion regarding the reasons it was challenged.

The Giver by Lowry

This is another Banned Book. This is an audio book from Audible. I've never actually read this book but I have wanted to do so for ages. I am absurdly fond of dystopian novels so this one is a treat for me.

The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs

I bought this book over the summer but I have only read a few pages so I am going to start it over for the challenge. I am looking forward to this book because I think it is a fascinating idea. I also wanted to include at least one non-fiction on the list.

My Ántonia by Willa Cather

I picked this one up during the summer as well. I wanted to read it because I have read very few books about the American frontier (I've read the Little House on the Prairie books and that is it!). How little I had read became clear this spring when I did my survey course in British and American Literature. I picked this book because it is about a woman by a woman, something I enjoy.



I will also be continuing my re-read of The Belgariad and The Mallorean by David Eddings. In addition to this I am awaiting the release of the next In Death book by J. D. Robb: Kindred in Death which is due out on November 3rd. But I am not including them in the challenges since they are my relaxing books. Books I don't really take notes on when I read (the school bus here is also the regular bus and the kids were looking at me like I was insane since I was making notes today). So there we have it: My books for the challenge

Book Review: Queen of Sorcery

Queen of Sorcery by David Eddings
Category: Fantasy

Book two of Eddings saga The Belgariad takes us further into the mysteries of the missing important item (what it is is revealed) and we are introduced to new characters and new lands. Although the story picks up a few short weeks after the first book, Pawn of Prophecy, we meet a much more grown up Garion. What he has learned has taken him from a boy to a young man (although he still has quite a bit of growing up to do).

My thoughts: This is perhaps my least favourite book in the series (please don't stop reading it though). I just felt like it plodded a long to much. It was a bit to much of a set up for future books. Having read the whole series before I can see the necessity of it a bit more but I have to admit that some of it still bores me a bit. I also don't much like the portrayal of Garion in this book. I know teenage boys can be sullen and moody and I understand his frustration with the adults withholding information from him. But at the same time the way he treats people seemed off to me, even when I, myself, was in the throws of teenage angst. There seemed little need for it. Especially since he is also portrayed as a "sensible lad". All in all I understand the books importance for the overall story arc but as a stand alone novel I would probably have given up on it.

The Sunday Salon: First Ever Post (for Me)

So me being me I decide to get back into blogging about book the week before BBAW. I have spent the week reading some amazing bloggs getting inspired and building my virtual TBR pile (I use Shelfari and then buy a bunch of them at once and they go in my actual TBR pile). I wanted to start by thanking the organizers for putting on such an inspiring event!

So what to write about here? Well since it is my first post I thought I would make it a bit about me. While surfing the bloggs at BBAW I came across this blog from Kim at Sophisticated Dorkiness where she asks the following question:

How do you squeeze reading into your schedule? What’s your best tip for making reading a habit when it feels like there’s no time? Or for students, how do you balance work and pleasure reading without burning yourself out?

I am currently a gradstudent studying for my MEd Secondary School English (primarily ESL). One of the reasons this blog got put on the back burner in the spring was because I became overwhelmed by school work. I did read, I mean I was doing a survey course in English and American Literature, but reading for pleasure didn't happen as much as I would have liked. This year I am determined to get a better balance. To allow myself more time for reading. My plan for now, and this will need to be tweaked probably since I start student teaching tomorrow *insert me as a headless chicken with my arms flailing here* and who knows what that will be like. The plan so far is:

• In bed with book for fun at 9pm at the latest.
• When I have to take the bus (which will happen at least Monday and Tuesday next week) either book or audio book on iPod.
  
• Weekends are for fun stuff and this includes reading.

My sister and I also agreed on a rule last year: No school books in bed! Last year I allowed lit books in bed but I think come spring when I do my last term of English lit books will be banned from bed as well. It just made me stressed last year.

For me finding a balance between school books and fun books has come down to this: Setting aside time for each. I am fortunate that I do my school on a distance learning basis. That means I sit at home and my classes are through Adobe Connect or a video streaming site. This means that I don't have any time between classes where doing school work might be hard to do. So I have decided that from 8-5 I do school work (with a break for lunch where I can do fun stuff) and after 5pm is time for me. I am not always good at doing this and sometimes school scuppers it (giving us several long chapters to read on Friday for Monday) but most of the time I know what school needs and when. I also try and shove reading in when I do have "dead time" like next week when I am stuck on a bus for almost an hour. I intend to imitate the New Yorkers and bury my nose in a book.

Looking forward to next week:

I want to finish Queen of Sorcery and start Magician's Gambit both by David Eddings. They are part of my re-read of the The Belgariade and The Mallorean. When I heard that Eddings had passed away this spring I decided that I would re-read these two series, unfortunately at the time I was on a different continent from my Eddings books and the local library only had a couple of them from the middle of the series so that plan had to wait.

I also intend to take part in Fall Into Reading that Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting. I was warned not to over reach with challenges and such (thank you so much to all who said that. I knew it but needed to hear it from more experienced people too) so I am not going to jump on to many to start with but this one seemed like a nice gentle introduction into the whole challenge scene. So be on the lookout for my post on that on Monday or Tuesday (it will probably be Monday since Tuesdays are a bit of a bear for me). I will also take part in Banned Book Week September 26th through October 3rd over at The Biblio Blogazine. I will be reading an old favourite of mine that I haven't read in forever: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and commenting on the reasons it was challenged (and banned from some places) and why I think it is an important book.

Other than that I am hoping to enjoy some more crisp fall days here where I can go for walks in the woods and pick mushrooms and then come home and curl up with a good book and a steaming cup of tea.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix [Audio book]

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J. K. Rowling. Read by Jim Dale

I was one of those people who sat outside a bookstore for hours waiting for the last book. In fact some friends and I organised a Harry Potter tour of the UK for members of a website in the two weeks leading up to the release. I make sure I re-read the books every so often. Over the summer I managed to get my hands on almost all the US audio books and I have been listening to them off and on since, mainly when I go for my walks or while I eat lunch. I have just finished the Order of Phoenix.

This is one of my favourite books mainly because it is the introduction of one of my favourite characters: Tonks. I also love the deliciously evil Dolores Umbridge and the mischief of Fred and George. It is a funny book but at the same time dark. I find the balance between the two perfectly managed in this book. I also find Harry's burgeoning realisation of what friends really are to be an important lesson to be learned. The fact that at the start of the book he wants to be seen with the cool kids but towards the end he reaches an understanding and appreciation of Luna and Neville, two of the not so cool kids.

Audio version: I am a bit meh about this audio version. I listened to the British Stephen Fry version a few years ago and I suppose I fell in love with it. What I find particularly grating in this one is the accents. Dale reads Dean Thomas with a Scottish accent. As a Harry Potter fan who has lived in the UK I find this grating since Dean Thomas is an Aston Villa fan and therefore, in my mind, from London. He should not have such a Scottish accent. I also do not read Bellatrix to have such a french accent. To me she was British too. She is probably one of the few characters in the book where I really see the actress who played her because that was so very well cast. Helena Bonham Carter is PERFECT in the role. But that isn't what I was going to talk about. Yes so I have a problem with the accent. One day I will definitely buy the British versions instead.


The Penguin in the picture is called Gred. He was our mascot on the aforementioned trip. And if Mor ever reads this, send me your address and he will be returned to you.

Philadelphia Libraries Safe

Some wonderful news just reached me. The Pennsylvania budget passed and the Philadelphia Free Libraries will remain open!!

This makes me ever so happy. I have very fond memories of the libraries in Philly and I know that I have family members who will continue to enjoy them for a long time (especially my brand new cousin Sam).

BBAW: Goals

Today's topic at Book Blogger Appreciation Week is:

Hopefully this week you’ve been visiting a bunch of new book blogs and maybe noticing some things about them you’d like to try yourself. Or maybe you’ve just had some ideas for improvements to your blog you’d like to put into place or new ideas for content. But there’s also probably something you really love about your blog, too, something you’re really proud of. It’s time to show off! Tell us and this is really important, in 50 words or less what you love best about your blog! And then in 50 words or less where you want your blog to be by the next BBAW! Ready? GO!

What am I most proud of?
That's a hard question since I have just started seriously book blogging. I suppose that is what I am most proud of. Taking that first step to share what I love. Putting my thoughts out there.

Goals for the future:
I want to...
...find a layout and background I love (maybe even a personalized one).
...continue to blogg regularly
...entertain and give tips to others
...take part in different challenges
...get a structure to my entries and my weeks and months (I'm playing with this still)