Classroom Novels

I haven't been reading as much as I should, as I have been planning my lessons for this upcoming year.

 I did recently read Night by Elie Wiesel and it was a VERY powerful novel. I recommend it to everyone. It was a relatively short read, but was such a sad look into the Holocaust. It is hard to believe that such an unimaginable tragedy occurred only 72 years ago. We think that we are such a civilized world and we still have such a ways to go.

Currently, I am reading Rules of Attraction which is the sequel to Perfect Chemistry (The novel I am teaching in conjunction with Romeo and Juliet). It is a young adult romance and very well-written! I do think I liked the first book better, but it is still a dynamic novel.

Next on the list, I want to FINALLY read Water for Elephants. It is sitting on the shelf, waiting for me!

Summer Reading

Hello to anyone who still reads this! :)
It has been awhile since I last updated, but I have been busy reading and preparing for my first year as a teacher. The books that I am reading are those which I will be teaching in my classroom. Here is a quick look at them!
Romeo and Juliet - What can I say that hasn't been said?
Perfect Chemistry - This is an awesome contemporary novel that I am assigning as a companion piece to Romeo and Juliet. I loved it and cannot wait to read more novels by this author. I am also very excited to see how it it is received by my 9th graders.
Animal Farm - It is a classic. Not my all-time favorite, but I can work with it!
You Don't Know Me - This is a novel that I am currently reading. So far, I find it a little unusual, but I can definitely see my students enjoying it!
These are all of the novels that my Remedial Reading class of 9th graders will be reading. I haven't started reading the tenth grade books, yet. Stay tuned for more reading fun!

Too many books to list....

...But, I'll try. I have been hooked on my Kindle books, as of late, and have found a FB group that lists new freebies, daily. So, many of the books are not top-sellers, but I still love them! :)

Lady in the Mist (The Midwives) by Laurie Alice Eakes
I think this is the most recent book that I have read. It was a quick read and held my interest. It is about a young woman in colonial America, who is a midwife, and is dealing with the realization that she will never marry and have her own children. Of course, a love interest enters the scene, but there are many obstacles standing in the way. You will have to read it to see what happens. I give it a 3.5.

Gypsy Bond by Lindy Corbin
Yes, I admit, even though I have a degree in English, I still indulge in a pointless romance novel from time to time. That is exactly what this book is. Quick read. I give it a 2.5.

Joyful Momma's Guide to Shopping and Cooking Frugally by Kimberly Eddy
This was an interesting non-fiction book. I love to coupon and bargain shop, so I was able to find a lot of good tips! 3.5.

Every Last Kiss (The Bloodstone Saga) by Courtney Cole
I read about 1/3 of this book and became bored. It is an epic fantasy type set in Ancient Egypt. 2.

The Boyfriend Bylaws (Totally Fit) by Susan Hatler
Okay, this book was really cutesy, but thankfully, short. Not a fan. I give it a 1.5, only because their was some comedic relief.

The Frozen trail by Lisa Dayley
This was a novella about the Mormon handcart company that traveled to Utah. It is told from the perspective of a teenage girl, who loses her mother along the way and must care for her siblings and aging father. I liked it! 3.5.

Bluegrass State of Mind by Kathleen Brooks
This was another very short book. Yes, its a romance, but not too trashy. :) It is about a young woman who loses her sister and must care for them or make sure her their current guardian (her brother-in-law's brother, lol) is taking care of them. Yep, they fall in love. 2.5.

South Beach Cinderella by Sharon Potts
This is probably my favorite book on this list and its worth a read. It is about a wife who has to deal with her husband's mid life crisis and his affairs. Good book! 4.

Ok! That's all for now. I will try to keep this updated a little better! :)

The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe

Interested in the Salem Witch Trials of 1692? You will love this novel!
~One of USA Today's Top Ten books of 2009~
Connie is a Harvard graduate working towards her doctorate on early colonial life. However, first she must go through her grandmother's old house to get it ready to sell. While there, she discovers a Bible with an ancient key hidden deep within. The key has a piece of paper in it with one name - Deliverance Dane. Connie is determined to find out who this woman is and why her name is written in the key. In the meantime, Connie falls in love with a church curator, who mysteriously falls ill. It turns out her only hope of saving him is linked to Deliverance Dane.
I loved every minute of this novel and could not set it down! I am a huge fan of historical fiction, obviously, so this was right up my alley! Even better, I found it in the Wal-Mart clearence section for $5! It is a $28 book - score! I would suggest this novel to anyone interested in history or suspense novels, there is even a love story built-in. :) I give this novel a score of 4.5~!

http://physickbook.com/

Teaching Tidbit

Yes, I know that this isn't a book review, but I had a brilliant idea and decided to write in this blog.
So, I think it would be a really neat idea, once I have a classroom, to have a classroom blog. Well, that is not the wonderful idea, but stick with me. Anyhow, this classroom blog would be available to all parents and students for viewing. However, I think I will be the only one to moderate.
With this blog, I think it would be neat for students to write book reviews of books that they read so that I can post to the blog for parents and other to see. You may ask, "What if the student just copies the review or makes it up?" Well, that is where the brilliant idea comes in......
Get this... For 5 points extra credit, a student can read a level-appropriate book, keep a reading log (which keeps them honest about ACTUALLY reading), and then write a one-page review for the blog. Students could complete 2 of these per semester, if they choose, which could potentially raise their grade by 10 points, a whole letter grade. The beauty of this is that it would get kids to do extra reading without forcing the issue. If you want a better grade - read. If not - don't read. Another benefit, is that it would teach them to write a review, NOT a summary. Kids are taught in elementary to summarize. It takes creative thinking to write a review.

Ok, so what do my teacher-y friends think about this idea? All input is appreciated!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

This novel is absolutely amazing. A professor of mine gave it to me, so it was a freebie! The novel follows the life of a young girl in 19th century China when girls still have their feet bound in order to be desirable wives. This girl becomes lifelong friends with another young girl through the secret language of Chinese women, nu shu. Point of view is first person, the young girl is now a very old woman who believes that everyone she has known in her life has passed on, so now she can finally tell her true story. Overall, it is a wonderful book and I truly have nothing negative to say about it. If one enjoys Memoirs of a Geisha, she will undoubtedly enjoy this novel. I would recommend it to women and girls over fourteen who are interested in historical fiction. I give this novel a 4! I am actually lending this to my best friend who also has a reading blog http://www.livinglaughingreading.blogspot.com.
Check it out and see if she enjoys the novel as much as I did! :)

 http://www.lisasee.com/snowflower.htm

For Time and Eternity by Allison Pittman

This novel is another Kindle Freebie, but it is actually really good. I imagine it is only free because it is the first novel in the series and the following novels are $10 a piece. I am sorry, but I am not going to pay $10 for a book that is downloaded. If I pay more than $4, I want a tangible object that can sit on my bookshelf! :)
Anyhow, this novel is about a woman who joins the Mormons on their trail to Zion in the 1800's. She leaves her mother and father, who are very overbearing in their Christian faith, for a religion that she believes is more loving. She converts and loves her life for about 5 years. Then, the 'prophet' begins creating new rules and ideas. Finally, she discovers that she no longer believes in the religion around the time her child dies and her husband takes another wife. Remember, this is back at the beginning of the Mormon faith, before the mainstream church denounced plural marriages and such.
While I enjoy the plot of a young woman coming into her own and standing up for her beliefs, the plot line is a little shallow at the time she changes her mind about the Mormons. For awhile, she is a young mother and wife who attends service regularly and follows her husband, blindly. Then, she has a baby that passes away and she immediately denounces the Mormon faith for Christianity. However, regardless of how it comes about, the rest of the novel becomes more intriguing.
I would suggest this novel to women who enjoy historical fiction. While this novel may not be the most historically researched, such as The 19th Wife, it is still a good read the follows the basic history of the early Mormon church. I will give it a 3.5 because it did keep me entertained.

 http://www.allisonpittman.com/

Daughter of Joy by Kathleen Morgan

I finally finished a book! I have definitely been going through a dry spell lately because I have been busy around the house. Anyhow, this book is really pretty good. It is definitely not the next #1 best-seller, but it is a sweet story full of inspiration. Categorically, it is an inspirational, historical romance. The novel follows a young woman, who has lost both her husband and son, to the Culdee Creek Ranch where she meets a man named Conor Mackay and his daughter, Beth. She eventually ends up falling for Conor, but encounters many trials and tribulations. It is a quick read and doesn't require too much concentration, so I was able to read it when students were reading while I subbed. I really like that at the beginning of each chapter, is a quote from the bible which suits the events in the story. I give this novel a 3 and I recommend it for women who enjoy books about the strenght of faith in God.

http://www.kathleenmorgan.com/index.html

iPad Obsession Mini Post

Hello my little bookworm friends!
This is just a brief post to assure you all that, yes, I am alive and well, but not getting much reading accomplished. Currently, I am in San Antonio enjoying a wonderful vacation. Next week, I plan to get back to reading and my other numerous projects. The next books on the list are the two remaining books in The Hunger Games Trilogy. Can't wait! TTFN

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

YES! I finally read The Hunger Games. It was amazing and I am oh-so-ready to read the other two books in this trilogy. This first novel is such a profound story, even though it is Young Adult fiction. I feel that most adults would enjoy this book and I know that many teens enjoy it, as well. I told my eigth grade class that I was reading it and received rather piercing screams from the girlies, of "Oh my God, that is, like, the best book ever!!!!" LOL. They absoultely had to know what part I was at and assured me that the next two books are just as good.
This novel is about Katniss, a girl in the very distant future, who grows up in poverty. She does all that she can to support her mother and sister, until she is chosen for The Hunger Games. These games are a fight-to-the-death reality show, similar to the era of gladiators. The audience is filled with bloodlust as they watch these teenagers fight to the death. The games are supposed to keep the various districts (countries) in check and prevent them from rebeling against The Capitol (government). In the midst of all the violence, is a romance, that is near to impossible.
Overall, it is a book that keeps its reader gripped in adventure and excitement. I found myself trying to create images from the book and realizing how close many of the aspects are similar to life, today. These Hunger Games are so similar to today's reality shows, such as Survivor, that it is uncanny. I would suggest this book to any and all readers, over the age of 12. There is some extreme violence involved, but it is not overly gory. A bonus to reading this novel is that the movie version is expeccted to come to theatres in March. I am wondering if these novels and the movies, will see as much success as Harry Potter or Twilight. I think I will give this novel a 5, it was that goood!!!

http://www.thehungergamesmovie.com/

Dusty Britches by Marcia Lynn McClure

Yet another Kindle freebie; however, this was a pretty good one! Dusty Britches is a historical romance based in the lated 1800's. It follows three couples who are on a ranch in Texas. The characters are realistic, for the most part, but the author can get carried away with the plot at times and the characters suffer for it. It is a lengthier Kindle book, but a quick read. It probably took around 5 hours to read it. I would suggest this novel for women who like romance and westerns, combined. The nice thing about this book is that the romance is kept tasteful and doesn't overwhelm the rest of the plot. I would have liked to see a bit more adventure and 'shoot-em-out' fights, but it still had a nice western flare. One thing that completely drove me CRAZY, was that the author kept referring to men's blue jeans - well, in the 1800's men did not wear blue jeans, they usually wore cotton or wool pants of a brown or grey color. Details, details, I am such a stickler for historic accuracy. Regardless, I managed to still enjoy the novel, so I will give it a 3.5. Definitely an enjoyable read!

Genealogy Returns

As my uncle so aptly put it, "It is time for the changing of the G's", as in gardening to genealogy. It seems as though the early onset of darkness every evening encourages us to delve into the past. Or, it could be that I finally have more time, after finishing the KPTP and teaching exams. Nonetheless, my book reviews may decrease for a while, as I return to ancestry work. However, I will let you knwo if I find anything iteresting, er, more interesting... Don't forget, I am related to a Swedish count and Pocahontas....What could possibly top that? Maybe my mysterious Russian ancestors are somehow connected to an ancient Czar or Anastasia...One can hope, can't she?

My Swedish great-grandfather,
whose father is said Count.
However, his mother was not
a Countess, so..... parentage
is proving difficult to verify.
approx 1913

The Most Unsuitable Wife by Caroline Clemmons

This was a Kindle Special and I think I paid 99 cents for it. I was expecting it to be very cliche or boring. However, I was pleasantly surprised as it was a well-thought out novel and had a great ending. I would definitely suggest this as a Kindle download and I believe it is still very cheap. It is about a Texan who must marry or he will lose his ranch according to the will left by his parents. On a cross-country trip, he finds and falls in love with a woman. She is being chased by a mysterious man who wished her dead. A cute novel, mainly for women, that I would recommend.
I give this book a 3.

The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas

My reading has slowed in the last week as a result of finishing my KPTP project for student teaching. However, I managed to finish one book, at least. The Chili Queen is yet another marvelous novel by Sandra Dallas. It is about a brothel madame, an outlaw, and a mail order bride in the late 1800's. It is full of hilarity, drama, and suspense. I really enjoyed it, even though I felt the ending was a little weak. There is a twist at the end, which I love, but I feel that the conclusion is just not what it should be. I think Dallas could have changed it to suit the rest of the book a little better. Not my favorite by Sandra Dallas, but it is definitely worth the read. I will give this novel a 3.5.

Pinterest

No book review for today, I was way too busy this weekend to read! I will give you a sneak peek - the next book that I am reading is The Chili Queen by Sandra Dallas. Stay tuned for a review.
A few random tidbits-

I am going to see Puss in Boots 3D tonight. It is supposed to be an adorable kids movie! I will let you know.
Also, I am in the middle of watching a movie called Broken Trail which is a Western starring Robert Duvall. I am halfway through it and hoep to finish tonight or tomorrow night.

I have finally joined Pinterest, so feel free to check out my boards on that site. I will try to get a link posted, soon! Also, don't forget my other blog. http://www.langenwalterliving.blogspot.com/! :)
TTFN

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

This book was a recommendation from another reading blog so I thought that I would give it a try. I am so glad that I did because it is a very well-written book and much different from anything that I usually read. It is a work of fiction, but it is based on true people and events. While reading it, you can almost imagine that it is completely true as the author does a marvelous job in creating historic documents and different versions of events.
The novel is about Ann Eliza Young, the 19th wife of Brigham Young. It follows the hostory of how the Firsts split from the Mormons in order to maintain their belief in celestial marriage, or polygamy. While the history is unfolding, aother story is being told at the same time about modern day polygamy among the Firsts in Utah. There is the mysterty over the murder of a well-know First who has 20+ wives and his 19th is arrested as a suspect. Her son, who was kicked out at a young age, comes back to Utah to help free her.
It is a really great novel and I learned a lot about Mormons, both FLDS and LDS, and how the two churches are utterly different. I suggest this book to anyone interested in history or biograpies, or just a well-written novel.
I will give this book a 4.5 because it kept my attention throughout the entire novel. If I changed anything it would be to edit out aome repetition, otherwise it is perfect!
Happy Reading! :)

http://www.ebershoff.com/

The Diary of Mattie Spenser by Sandra Dallas

This is the best book that I have read in quite a while! It is a must-read for women. The ending is marvelous and ever-so-perfect. I cannot say enough good things about this novel, as Sandra Dallas has Wow-ed me once more. :)
This novel follows Mattie and her new husband from Iowa to Colorado in the late 1860's. they homestead on the Colorado prairie and encounter heartbreak and small victories all wrapped together. It is told from first-person in the form of diaries and letters by Mattie.
This was a fast read and I could not set it down! I must say that it will most likely only appeal to women as it is a typical feel-good, historical romance novel.
I am going to give it a 4.5

Happy Reading!

Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jackson

Yep, another Southern novel! I absolutely loved this book. Personally, I thought it was better than Gods in Alabama, but if you read one, you really should read the other. Gods in Alabama is told from Arlena's view and Backseat Saints is told from Rose Mae's view. Both of these girls went to the same high school and were part of Jim Beverly's disappearance senior year. I would suggest that one reads Gods in Alabam, first. it provides a little more background that is nice to have for Backseat Saints. This is another Southern gothic, dirty realism novel. Completely loved this one and would recommend it to anyone, over 16yo. :)

I will give it a 4.5. The only reason I don't give it a 5, is because I rarely give any novel a 5. :)

Enjoy!

The Girl Who Couldn't Say No: Memoir of a Teenage Mom by Tracy Engelbrecht

Kindle Freebie from Amazon - so, of course I had to download it and read it. I love free books!! It was actually a decent book. It is about Tracy who gets pregnant at 14 and it follows her through the next ten years. Surprisingly, it is not a MTV 16 & Preganat kind of book, nor is it a "poor me" novel. It is simply a memoir of how she handled the situation and was able to grow because of it. Not one of my favorite books, but I am glad that I read it. I would give it an overall rating of: 3.

Gods in Alabama by Joshilyn Jackson

Yes, I am on a Southern Fiction streak, but stick with me! Gods in Alabama is undoubtedly Southern Fiction, complete with dysfunctional families, the bizarre, murder, rape, and a hint of the gothic, like any good Southern novel should be! That being said, if you are not used to Southern Fiction, this may not be the book for you.
"There are gods in Alabama: Jack Daniel's, high  school quarterbacks, trucks, big tits, and also Jesus. I left one back there myself, back in Possett. I kicked it under the kudzu and I left it to the roaches..." (Jackson).
That quote is my favorite of the book and it just about sums it all up. Now, I suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a non-conventional read that can appreciate a good novel. It is undoubtedly rated R, so I would not recommend it to any Young Adult readers or students. I also don't think it is a novel for the guys - they just might not understand the implications behind it. However, a guy who appreciates Southern Lit would like this book. Women who appreciate or have experienced dysfunction will love this book.
To sum it all up : It is a Southern Fiction novel, heavy on dirty realism, with a slight hint of Southern gothic.
I give it a 4.5. I would give it a 5, if it had hooked me a little better in the beginning. I felt like it had a slow start to it, but glad I stuck with it!

Here is the authors website (I will be reading more of her novels).
http://joshilynjackson.com/

Enjoy!