Monday, November 15, 2010

It's Monday 11/15! What Are You Reading?

Happy Monday!  I can't believe it's mid-November already, and the holiday season starts next week - yikes!  Things will get really hectic from here out.

Last week was a busy one, too.  Craig was home sick for two days, I was under the weather myself most of the week, my husband was still out of town, and Craig hurt his knee on Thursday.  Typical week with kids, right?  He got an MRI Friday night, and we're headed to the orthopedic specialist this morning.  It's feeling a lot better, so hopefully, it's nothing too serious.

I did find time to read during all that craziness (actually waiting rooms are a great opportunity to read!):
  • I finished Beloved by Toni Morrison.  Wow.  I understand why it's considered a modern classic.  Review to come this week (somehow I ran out of time for reviews at the end of the week...)
  • I read a sweet middle-grade novel, Touch Blue, by award-winning author Cynthia Lord.  I loved her first novel, Rules, and this one was very good as well.
  • I started The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating, a beautifully written memoir by Elisabeth Tova Bailey who has the same chronic illness I have.  So far, it's just as good as everyone said it was.
  • Jamie, 16, is still making his way through The Stand by Stephen King.  A friend was teasing him this weekend, "You're still reading the same book?"  Jamie said, "It's over 1000 pages long with small print!"  Despite all the school work that keeps him busy, he is still finding time to enjoy this novel and says it just keeps getting better and better.
  • I honestly have no idea what Craig, 12, is reading right now.  I'm having trouble getting him to read much of anything, and he keeps switching books after reading only a chapter or two!  I know he started a Hardy Boys book last week while he was home sick (his version of comfort reading).  If anyone has any suggestions of a book for a 7th grade boy that grabs you in the very first chapter, I'd love to hear it!

Last week, I posted a couple of fun items:  some new videos by the author of Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life and a trailer for a new movie version of Jane Eyre.  I also posted a review of the teen suspense novel, The Deadly Sister on my kids/teen book blog, Great Books for Kids and Teens.


What are you and your family reading this week?


(What are you reading Monday is hosted by Sheila at Book Journey).

7 comments:

  1. Good morning Sue! You realize that you are encouraging me to check out Beloved from the library again and actually find time to read it this time. :)

    Hope everything turns out well with Craig's knee.

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  2. I've always wanted to read Beloved but never found the time. Will look out for your review once ints posted. In the meantime, have a great week ahead!

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  3. Anonymous12:58 PM

    I received for review "Lodestone Book One: The Sea of Storms" by Mark Whiteway from the author.

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  4. I am going to have to get Beloved off my wish list and into the house!

    Dollycas
    http://dollycas.blogspot.com/

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  5. I also had a cold this week. 'Tis the season, I suppose. Hope all is well with Craig.

    Can't wait for your Beloved review! You're the 2nd blogger I've come across this week having read it.

    That's funny about Jamie's friend! Kids don't expect to read such a long book--good for him :) Have you looked into the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson? They are for reluctant readers, but if Craig is more advanced in reading, try C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton...that's about all I can think of at the moment, so hope that helps :)

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  6. Anonymous4:57 PM

    I'm having this awful cough! There are a few of us feeling less than 100%, it seems. Hopefully it doesn't affect your reading.

    I should read Beloved! I'm sure I will eventually.

    http://leeswammes.wordpress.com Leeswammes (Judith)

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  7. Glad I'm inspiring everyone to read Beloved - its a very powerful book.

    Teacher/Learner -
    Thanks for the ideas for Craig! My older son LOVES the Maximum Ride series.

    Sue

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