Tuesday Book Club
One of the advantages to reading three books at once is that when you finally finish them, it’s a big week.
So here’s my three:
Inkheart, by Cornelia Funke, and Miri and Lady T were right–it was just the kind of book I love. Great, spunky, brave girl character, fun fantasy elements, lots of imagination. I’m very happy I read it, and I’ll be going on to the next in the trilogy, Inkspell as soon as I reread Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which of course must take priority.
Everyday Grace by Marianne Williamson. I love Marianne’s work. She touches both my spiritual and my practical side, and always says things in a way that make sense and usually hit me straight in the gut. I saw her in person at that conference I attended last month, and she was just as grounded and yet profound as she is in her books. What a treat.
And finally, I read an advance copy of Deal With It! Powerful Words from Smart Young Women. I saw this mentioned on Jen Robinson’s page a month or so ago, and was intrigued, and then the teacher who compiled the stories contacted me separately to see if I would read them. The book is a collection of poems and essays by the 5th-grade girls in Stacey Shubitz’s class in East Harlem, NY. I love it any time an author is brave enough and honest enough to expose both the best and the worst of him or herself, and these girls do it. You read about their jealousies and their anger toward parents and siblings, and you also see the hope and resolve they have to live better lives. One of the girls shares a one-room apartment with nine family members. I can’t even imagine. Others live in scary apartment buildings none of us like to think of children having to navigate. But they come to school and they blossom. You’ll cheer these girls’ attitudes and determination.
Whew. That’s me for the week. And you?
[P.S. Have you told me yet what date you prefer for the Fantasy Potluck? Please do. I want as many of you as possible to be able to come!]
Technorati Tags: Tuesday Book Club, Book Clubs, Reading Clubs, Books, Reading, Book Reviews, Book Recommendations, Inkheart, Cornelia Funke, Everyday Grace, Marianne Williamson, Deal With It! Powerful Words from Smart Young Women, Stacey Shubitz
Yay for you, Robin! (By the way, the third in the trilogy, either Inkdawn or Inkdeath, I think, (one’s pretty, and the other makes sense based on what we know as of the end of Inkspell) is coming…sometime. I’ll be scouting out my sister’s book fairs for it, because they always get them first. And it’s a steal.
This week I’ve been revisiting an old favorite, the Protector of the Small quartet by Tamora Pierce. The writing isn’t phenomenal and if I were in the mood to I could pick it apart, but it’s thoroughly readable and I love her characters. Protector of the Small chronicles Keladry of Mindelan’s years as a page and squire, then as a lady knight (working in a capacity no one every expected). The first book, First Test, is about her first year as a page, which she spends in the knowledge that if the training master decides she’s not good enough, she has to leave at the end of it – just because she’s a girl. Page is the next three years, when she starts to transform from a girl to a woman, and a fighter to a warrior. Squire, which I’m reading now, covers the four years following that, which she spends in the service of a knight-master. And Lady Knight is her being more rebellious than we thought she could while doing her duty by those who can’t defend themselves.
Like I said, not phenomenal, but a far sight better than Tamora Pierce’s earliest quartet (the main character, Alanna, was, ahem, quite the Mary-Sue), and I like them a lot.
Sad to say that I won’t be piping up here the next three Tuesdays, but my airplane reading material is listed (and pictured! I’m incredibly camera-happy lately) on my blog, and I’ll report on those when I get back from Australia.
Congrats on finishing Inkheart,Robin. You’ll love Inkspell,too and I hear that they’ve greenlighted a film version of Inkheart starring Brendan Fraiser(he does the audio readings for both books).
I finished Throne of Jade by Naomi Novik and started The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes by a trifecta of authors-Jennifer Crusie,Eileen Dwyer and Anne Stuart. It’s a really fun novel about three witch sisters who have been sent their True Loves by their scheming aunt out to steal their powers. It’s due out in stores next week as a paperback original(I picked my copy up at BEA)and it’s perfect for chasing the blahs of summertime TV away.
Lady T, I love Jennifer Crusie any old time. That woman is SO funny. Have you ever read her blog? She talks about all the unattractive parts of being a writer (what–there are some?), and does it in her usual honest, self-deprecating style. A lot of fun.
Miri, I think we’ll excuse you from reporting in so you can go to AUSTRALIA. Hello? What’s with the glam life, Miri? Why you been holding out on us? First Kelly goes to Scotland, and now you Down Under–if we were all lesser people we’d be so, so jealous instead of so, so happy for you. Have a great time, and post a slew of photos on your blog!
Oh, and by the way, I love a good warrior girl tale. I’ve had that Pierce quartet on my shelf for a few years now, still haven’t read them. Maybe after Harry Potter and Inkspell and the other thousands of books waiting on my TBR pile . . .
Hi everyone! I only read one book this week (and 2 audio books). I read Melvin Burgess’ Doing it and I *loved* it! And can I just say that everything sounds cooler when it’s British?! It’s a YA book about 3 guy friends in high school and their sex lives… but I had no idea what they were talking about half the time =) (They have much cooler expressions for sex acts!)
I also kicked through two audio books: The Bad Beginning and The Reptile Room! Tim Curry is the greatest narrator ever! Oh, I’m listening to The Wide Window now, and it’s Snicket narrating. He doesn’t sound like I thought he would and that’s kind of sad. I think I prefer Curry.
Oh, and I’m mildly proud of myself. I started a book that I just wasn’t feeling so I put it down. I might go back to it, but I’m not sure… but the best part is that I don’t feel the least bit guilty! =)
Christen, bravo on putting down the book you weren’t into. Life’s too short, and all of our To Be Read piles are MUCH too large to put up with a book that doesn’t do it for you.
I read Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra. It’s her YA debut, and I loved it. It’s kind of a hip, fictional “The Artist’s Way”. A really cool read.
Heather, I LOVE The Artist’s Way. Are you serious? That’s what it’s like? I want it!!
Yup. Still reading the same book. (American Gods) You know, one of my goals was to read more from the adult side, but I realize how spoiled I’ve become by reading mostly kidlit. I mean, I’m used to gulping a book down in one mouthful, the whole yummy or painfully honest or experimentally formed thing. Even Octavian Nothing, I swear I loved that book (which has been called “difficult” by some) and I read it straight through. So why am I slow right now, like molasses? Is it me or the book?
From the blurb, “She’s determined to find her own place in the art world, her own way….Angel must decide what matters most before the artist inside of her can truly break free.”
Even though this deals with a different medium, I totally related to the struggles and searches in my own creative life.
Christen, Everyone looks at me like I have three heads when I say how much I enjoyed reading Doing It, so I’m glad to hear someone else say they like it.
Robin, Inkheart = YAY! It’s a favorite of mine. I didn’t love Inkspell quite as much, but I’m still waiting (and WAITING) for #3.
Over the weekend, I read Prom Nights from Hell, which was very fun. “The Corsage” by Lauren Myracle (a riff on “The Monkey’s Paw”) has particular awesomeness. It starts funny but changes tone quickly and, I thought, convincingly. I would love to use it as a comparison-contrast to the original story in a classroom setting, but only with the kids who would take it seriously, which is why I’m not a teacher.
Currently, I’m reading Lucy Rose: Working Myself to Pieces and Bits. I haven’t read enough to decide what I think yet. Soon, though, soon.
I read Looking for Alaska and have decided I must make John Green run away with me when I see him this weekend at ALA.
What I think is interesting about his writing is that his stories are actually not that strong – like the plots and action and stuff – but his characters are so compelling and his writing style is just…unique and amazing. He rocks.
It’s slow-going for me, but I’m reading Into the Woods (middle grade), Waves (a YA novel), a non-fiction adult title, and a children’s title (early middle grade) that I think is supposed to be free verse poetry, but I’m not so sure.
Sara, is that Gaiman you’re reading? I think we own that one . . . is it good?
Sara, I hear ya on the adult books. I just so prefer YA and middle grade. Unless it’s something like Eat, Pray, Love or The Time Traveler’s Wife or Dickens or something. Let’s embrace our immature Inner Readers.
Adrienne, I meant to pick up Prom Nights from Hell, since it has stories by two of my favs, Meg Cabot and Stephenie Meyer. Thanks for the reminder. Glad you liked it.
Molly, how is that fair? The rest of us don’t have access like that. Actually, I don’t want to run away with him, I just want to hang out with the people from An Abundance of Katherines. That’ll do me just fine. Have fun with John!
Jules, keep plugging away. You’ll get through it, and then on to something fun like Kiki Strike, which I cannot BELIEVE you haven’t read yet! You’ll see my additional comments about that fact over on Jen’s page. Come on–you’re gonna love it!
Robin, I also loved Inkheart. I personally found Brendan Fraser’s voice distracting in the second book (I listened to both on MP3, the first had a different narrator). He wasn’t bad – I just kept thinking “oh, that’s Brendan Fraser” and it took me out of the story a bit. I think it would be ok in a movie. And I am looking forward to the third book.
Glad that you liked DEAL WITH IT. I have a manuscript copy, but haven’t gotten to it yet.
I did finish the first Harry Potter book, and am just about finished with the second (it probably would have kept me up last night, except that I knew how it would end). But oh, how my stacks of other review books are calling me, as I delve into those Harry Potters.
I also finished listening to an adult mystery called Bad Luck and Trouble, the latest in Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series (which I adore). I’m now listening to Flyte, by Angie Sage (the sequel to Magyk).
Jen, that’s quite a week! Not to add to the voice of temptation, but I’m turning to Harry Potter 5 & 6 next. Priorities!
Considering that the character Mo/Silvertongue was supposedly written with Brendan Fraser in mind, I think he’ll be excellent in the movie.
But what I’m really looking forward to is Paul Bettany as Dustfinger. Because Dustfinger is one of the most fascinating characters ever. I hope Paul does him justice.
Paul Bettany is Dustfinger? How entirely excellent!
Today, I read CASSIE WAS HERE by Caroline Hickey and then treated myself to a BSC book.
(The Baby-Sitters Club. I recently acquired a slew of titles to fill in the holes in my collection, and now I feel 8 years old again.)
Little Willow, how fun are you?! I’d say you’re doing double duty with those Baby-Sitters Club books–they count toward your Tuesday totals, but they also qualify for your Friday nice things you’re doing for yourself.
Having a week where I’m writing reviews instead of reading! I thought I’d check in to see if Jen has a good audio recommendation and, yes!, she does…Heading over to audible…
Oh, and, hi, Robin and crew!
You’re coming to Australia, Miri?! What a good decision
Let me know if want any local advice!
Um, I’m also just popping by (in my lunchbreak). As usual, I can’t remember which books I’ve finished in the last week.
Since last Tuesday I’ve:
- almost finished rereading The Dreaming Suburb, by R F Delderfield;
- read Dobry, by Monica Shannon (another Newbery Medal winner);
- started Uglies, by Scott Westerfield;
- and loaded Civ IV back onto my computer, meaning that I’m wasting too much time on that and not reading enough. Bleah.
Oh, and also started reading So Disdained, by Nevil Shute.
Thanks for the offer, Emmaco! They gave us a lot of material, but let’s see!
Ah. Okay. Do you have any biting, stinging, or otherwise painful and numerous insects? (Because if you do, I will become their new favorite food, and I’d like to be prepared.)
Don’t want to hijack Robin’s blog too much…but there it is.
Fear not, Miri. I live to serve. You guys can talk all you want.
I am coming late to the party–it’s been a very busy week.
I did finish Uglies and will look for the next one when school starts again.
I really like Tamora Pierce’s books. There was a set with individual names that I didn’t care for, but I always get in line to read her latest offering.
I really enjoy Catherine Coulter’s FBI series and Double Take was just as enjoyable. It’s not great literature but it has good characters and an easy to follow mystery.
Readerdiane, thanks as always for your report!
Hi Miri! Sorry for being so late to reply – it’s been a busy week with some good things happening (I’ll wait till Sunday’s 7-imp list comes around to share).
Bugs. Well, yes, we do have lots of stinging insects. It’s winter, though, so I doubt you’ll be bothered too much! Plus it’s cold enough to wear long sleeves/pants so you presumably won’t have too much skin to get bitten. In any case, some people don’t seem to get bitten by mozzies (mosquitos) as much as others. We all have theories as to why this is so: eat vegemite and you won’t, have fair hair or eat lots of bananas and you will are some of the ones I collected yesterday
If you are a fair-haired banana eater who won’t try vegemite you could always just use insect repellent
Even though we have lots of poisonous spiders and snakes, it’s very very unusual to get bitten. Just wear covered shoes if you go bushwalking!
Your plane reading looks excellent! I hope it goes well and feel free to ask more.
I’m quite familiar with mozzies (they come out in swarms around here), so I bought some seriously heavy-duty insect repellent to bring.
And I’ve tried vegemite. I like it.
Thanks!