Eclipse & Breaking Dawn

Hey, readers!

I recently finished "Eclipse" and started "Breaking Dawn", which means I am dangerously close to finishing the "Twilight" series. That's right: I committed to it, and I will follow-through.

The truth is, after "Twilight", I felt the series picked up steam. I enjoyed "New Moon", and "Eclipse" held my interest even through the busy Christmas season. "Breaking Dawn" is suffering my inattention because I have been on vacation, but as soon as I simmer down and keep my eyes open long enough, I will finish that too.

I can already predict that my affection (who knew?!) for the series will lead me to read the excerpt of "Midnight Son" online. I am always interested in the story behind the story, and to read "Twilight" from a different perspective will be a really interesting experience. I am looking forward to it, actually.

In other news, I have resisted the urge to see "Twilight" in the theater. I want to finish the books first, and even then I am not sure I will ruin the imagery in my head by indulging myself with the movie. However, the more I read the books, the more I'm starting to see the actors' faces in my mind; thus, I have already been tainted. My guess is that I will break down and watch it.

That is all for now! I hope you are all enjoying your vacations with family, friends, and fabulous reads.

Happy reading!

What are you reading? (Part two)

Back in the day, I posted a list of my five favorite books, and I invited you to post your own list as well. A number of you chimed in, and you can see that if you click the link to the post on the right.

Here, to revive the top fives, Nick Mitchell and James Lee offer their suggestions. If you want to add your own, click "Comment" or drop a note on my desk!

Nick's List
1. Voices of Protest (various authors)
2. Autobiographies and Informational Texts
3. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Mildred Taylor)
4. The Well (Mildred Taylor)
5. Silent Boy

James' List
1. The Odyssey
2. The Iliad
3. Dune (the whole series)
4. The Three Musketeers
5. Frost (collected poems, prose, & plays)

Thanks for your input, Nick and James!

Happy Reading!

New Moon (Part 2)

I finished New Moon just moments ago. My final assessment must include some version of "I enjoyed it far more than I enjoyed Twilight." Now, I understand there is little to no consensus on which Stephenie Meyer book is best. And, for those who do agree on the "best" book of the series, I have yet to hear any two people agree on the final "order of excellence."

That said, so far, my vote is for New Moon. I think the deciding factor for me is everyone's favorite werewolf: Jacob Black. With his "sweet" smile and "shining" eyes, Jacob proves himself a true friend to Bella (by this time a social outcast to the nth degree). He indulges her need for adrenaline. He fills the gaping hole she feels burning in her chest. He intuits her hatred for music and romantic comedies and all the things that remind her of Edward. He is fabulous.

Of course, the drama with the "bloodsuckers" does not end. (There are, after all, two more books in the series, plus the belabored Midnight Sun to woo readers.) But, in the end, after a brief trip to Italy and lifetime groundation, Bella is back in Forks, forced to do the impossible: catch up on school work in time for graduation.

Ah. The life of a mere human who happens to be in love with a vampire.

If you liked Twilight, you clearly do need to read New Moon. As for me, I did not love the first book, but my sister (and Mrs. Brann) insisted that I read New Moon. I can now admit that I'm glad I did.

Time to move on to Eclipse.

Happy reading!

New Moon

Well, my sister came through for me and brought New Moon and Eclipse from Florida to Maine when she visited last week. So far, Stephenie Meyer's second book (New Moon) has already captured my attention more than Twilight did. Perhaps this is because my sister read the first three chapters aloud, proving once and for all that no matter your age, being read to is fun and relaxing.

I will keep you posted on my experience of the Edward/Bella drama-thon. Here's hoping I love what's between the pages as much as I enjoy the neat covers.

Happy reading!

Twilight Madness!

Today's Bagels & Books was huge success! With a turn-out of over fifty students, staff, parents, and community members, Twilight clearly made an impact.

Many participants have completed Stephenie Meyer's four-book series (and some have read her incomplete re-telling of the first book online) and had to be sworn to secrecy about the characters' extended storylines. Still, some information slipped inadvertently as energetic readers burst at the seams to debate and discuss the novels.

With enthusiasm for Bagels & Books at an all-time high, librarian Cathi Howell introduced the next book, Three Cups of Tea. This piece of non-fiction is a big departure from the rabidly-consumed Twilight, but the story and message are too important to miss. For more information about Three Cups of Tea or to participate in the online discussion, visit Mrs. Howell's Bagels & Books blog.

Update from the LFHS Library!

Mrs. Howell has created fabulous displays of many new library books for her first ever Preview Cafe!

Over the course of this week, all English classes will visit to learn more about the newest additions to the collection and to snack on great fall treats!

Stop in to see what's new!

What are you reading?

Hey, readers!

I've got this fabulous blog, where I have a chance to write about the books I'm reading and where I will share some of my favorite books. But I want to hear from you, too!

Click "comment" below and tell me what your top five books of all time are. This is a great opportunity to share your love of reading-- and to discover some new loves!

I'll start.

My top five books are (in no particular order)...

1. Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston)
2. The Accidental Asian (Eric Liu)
3. Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Aron Ralston)
4. Girl, Interrupted (Susanna Kaysen)
5. The Things They Carried (Tim O'Brien)

I will say that my list is in flux. As I discover new books, I am sometimes forced to adjust my list. But #1 and #2 are permanent fixtures. :)

Bagels and Books-- November 18

Keep in mind:

Bagels & Books
November 18, 2008
7 a.m.
LFHS Library

We will be discussing Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Come enjoy good food, good company, and great discussion!

The Things They Carried

The Things They Carried
By Tim O'Brien

O'Brien, Tim. The Things They Carried. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin, 1990.

The Things They Carried is located in the LFHS Library Media Center with the call number SC OBR (“Story Collections).


The Things They Carried is Tim O'Brien's ode to his comrades and their time in Vietnam. He holds nothing back, describing the horror and the ecstasy of war. While the inspiration for his story collection is the depth and breadth of his experience, he fully admits to exaggeration. He writes that “[Storytelling] is not a game. It's a form. Right here, now, as I invent myself, I'm thinking of all I want to tell you about why this book is written as it is... I want you to feel what I felt. I want you to know why story-truth is truer sometimes than happening-truth” (179).

With the skill of an adept storyteller and with the happening-truth of his tour of Vietnam, O'Brien intensifies his experiences, drawing parallels between the brutality of war and the complexities of life. He pulls his audience into the muck, into the woods, onto the roads he walked with his fellow soldiers. He writes of life before, during, and after the war, of lives lived, lost, and found. He tugs at the audience's emotions and activates its gag reflex. In the end, he is telling his story, inflated with the intention of making his audience flinch and cry and feel with him.

The Things They Carried is an engaging but taxing read. It requires time to digest, even as the brevity of its stories makes it a quick read. For those interested in the art of writing, in the Vietnam War, and in the complexity of human nature, The Things They Carried is an excellent choice.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams

Adams, Douglas. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. New York: Harmony Books, 2004.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is available in the Livermore Falls High School library. The call number is F ADA.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a classic but quirky piece of literature that features alien abductions, the annihilation of Earth, and copious amounts of imagination. Douglas Adams' humor is in the vein of “Monty Python”, those silly and sardonic British films (and the Broadway play “Spamalot”) that take ridiculous and layer it atop ridiculous. Adams was, in fact, friends with the comedians of “Monty Python”, and he inspired and was inspired by their humor.

The main character of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is Arthur Dent, an Earthling whose childhood belief in UFOs and extraterrestrial life is confirmed when his friend, Ford Prefect, turns out to be an extraterrestrial being. Ford is stuck on Earth, where he had originally been stationed to conduct research-- research which would ultimately become part of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The initial conflict of the undulating story is the destruction of Arthur's house in order to build a highway across his property. Arthur is understandably opposed, but his concern turns out to be for naught. The drama escalates as a new conflict is introduced: the Earth is about to be destroyed, and Ford and Arthur need to escape.

Interestingly, the annihilation of Earth is not the central conflict of the story. In fact, conflict after conflict arise as Arthur and Ford escape Earth via the “Infinite Improbability Drive” and, initially, a spacecraft known as the Heart of Gold. Twists and turns abound as characters like Zaphod Beeblebrox and Slartibartfast complicate the plot, leading to the surprising conclusion of who really controls the universe.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a fast and clever read. This edition, “The Illustrated Collector's Edition”, created to celebrate the 25th anniversary, is large. What it lacks in portability, it makes up in humor and “special features.” In fact, the run-up to the story is a fairly extensive introduction to the author and to the story behind the story. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is fantastically interesting and a fun read for those who need an escape from reality-- much the way Arthur “escapes” from his.

Inkheart

Inkheart
By Cornelia Funke
Reviewed by Ms. Fournier


Funke, Cornelia. Inkheart . Frome: The Chicken House, 2003.

Inkheart is available in the Library Media Center in the fiction section with the call number “F Fun”.

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Inkheart is a cleverly woven tale of a man (Mo) who can read characters out of fictional texts, his daughter (Meggie) who has a love of reading and a perhaps unhealthy level of curiosity, and a number of both humorous and terrifying characters (Capricorn, the frightening villain; Elinor the bookish and sassy great aunt; and Dustfinger, the elusive and cunning fire-eater). Together with their Arabian friend Farid and a cast of fictional beings (fairies, trolls, and a horned marten), they must find a way to save their lives and the sanctity of their stories.

The storytelling is elaborate, with settings and characters described in great detail, appealing to the reader's senses and sensibility. The plot is complex, twisting and turning in unexpected (and a few expected) ways. In the end, the lines between reality and the fictional world are blurred, with our main characters battling both in personal and existential ways.

Inkheart is fairly easy to read, due in part to the compelling story and to the skillful storytelling. Lovers of fantasy and those who long to meet the characters they have read so much about should read Inkheart. For those who love series, Inkheart is also ideal; it is followed by Inkspell and Inkdeath, sequels also composed by Cornelia Funke.