John Green--The Author

John Green won the Printz Award last year for his book Looking for Alaska (which we are reading right now for book club). This year he won the Printz Honor for his book An Abundance of Katherines. This is one of my favorite books of the year. Two city boys go on a road trip and end up in this small town (smaller then Holmen) in Tennessee. Colin, a washed-up child prodigy, has recently been dumped by the 19th Katherine (yes he has dated 19 Katherines!!) and graduated from high school. He is working on a mathematical equation to predict romantic relationships. I found this book to be funny and well written and I am so happy to see it honored with the Printz Honor.

I have linked to John Green's website, so you can check out his blog and other interesting facts about him and the books. He has a section on famous last words and anagrams (both of which will make more sense to you once you have read his books).

Looking For Alaska

Has anyone finished this yet? I am so ready to talk about it and everyone is taking forever to read it. If there is a single soul out there who has finished it, please leave comments.

*Spoiler*
What did you think when Eagle announced Alaska was dead? I couldn't believe it. What do you think Alaska's last words were? This book is one of those "thinker" books. I like it!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants

Just a reminder Read It 1st is this week on Thursday, January 11, 2007. Come to lunch time discussion and the movie @ 6:30 p.m.

If you haven't read it yet we still have copies available @ the library.

Happy reading!

Posting with New Blogger

Some of you have noticed that Blogger looks a bit different. They have changed their layout and login procedure. If you have a google login the process will be easy, if you don't you will need to create one and you will need to use your email address. If you have any questions regarding this process, please stop by the library or email me @ recbec@holmen.k12.wi.us.

A Certain Slant of Light

Reminder...Book Club will be during all three lunches tomorrow January 4th. We are discussing A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb.

Check out her website and publisher's website.

I look forward to discussing this book with you. I know many of you have said that you enjoyed it and are looking forward to the discussion. I made the cookies (from scratch) last night. Joel (Mr. Rech) said they were very good--I think they are called "Five Chip Cookies"

Happy reading!

I Am the Cheese

There was decent turn out for the movie and interesting commentary during the movie as well as an interesting discussion afterwards.

For those of you who didn't make it the movie had some significant differences, but they weren't necessarily bad things. The movie was just a tad bit less confusing then the book. The ending was just a bit more tidy.



**Possible Spoiler**
I am still convinced that Adam/Paul was drugged to so that he wouldn't ask questions and remember his past except when they wanted him to. I think that would explain his very weird behavior most of the time, yet there seemed to be some coherence to his traveling and thought process. If he was drugged for three years he may not remember anything.

Okay, okay...enough. Comment if you would like otherwise we will put the Cheese rest!

Harry Potter #7 Announced

Have you heard?!!?

Harry Potter #7's title is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow.

There are quite a few articles about the title out there. Some about the way to find the title and others about the significance of the title and the contents of the book.

Here is one of my favorites.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-061221potter-story,0,5238548.story

Robert Cormier on NHPR

Listen to author Patricia Campbell talk about her new book Robert Cormier: Daring to Disturb the Universe on New Hampshire Public Radio.

http://www.nhpr.org/node/11974

Read It 1st -- I am the Cheese

The next book for Read It 1st is I am the Cheese by Robert Cormier. Reserve your copy today. Discuss online right now or in person on Thursday December 7th during lunch. The movie will be @ 6:30 p.m. on December 7th.

Godless

This reminder is coming out a little late, but I thought I should do it anyways. TODAY is the discussion for Godless by Pete Hautman. There hasn't been much discussion on the blog about it, but I have heard a few opinions from you. I am looking forward to the discussion. As I have told a couple of you I didn't necessarily love the book, but I definitely appreciate it. I think it is very well written and very discusable.

Check out the author's website for some of his thoughts on why he wrote the book. I saw him speak this summer and it was very interesting to listen to. Ask me and I'll show you the cool way he signed my book!

Mix up of priorities...

The point of my weekend was to finish Ethan Frome, read all of Godless, and maybe start Never After, since it's due tomorrow....
Well, I finished Ethan Frome (it's such a romantic book! but Romeo and Juliet romantic.... sad...). And I made it through The Pawn of Prophecy and am part way through Queen of Sorcery, both by David Eddings, and both which I have read already.... but they're so good and they lift up my spirits cuz I always get laughs out of the characters! I think I'll have to go through the whoooole series now! Good thing I have my own collection, cuz the library doesn't.... ;-]
I still have two weeks before the Godless discussion, don't I??

I gave up. I got New Moon, Rebel Angels and Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

All of them were really great. It was weird, because with her new book, Sarah Dessen involves characters and a location with her new characters. I was really excited. I bet if she keeps intertwining the stories, it could make an interesting series of movies. And I mean good movies, not melodramatic mandy moore stuff.

Speaking of movies, did you guys hear that they might make twilight into a movie? Danielle probably already knows, but I still think it's interesting. I really hope they don't mess up the story, like they do so many times...

I've finished!

I actually finished Twilight a couple hours after I posted. Jack's Mannequin is a good band to listen to. Especially Made For Each Other/You Can Breathe. That song is kinda about love, then it's gets dangerous, but there still is love. Similiar to the book.

I absolutely loved the book. And I really want to read New Moon. My problem is that I don't want to buy it (it'd be weird, having Twilight in paperback, and new Moon in hardcover). I'm really uptight about my personal library. I'm on the waiting list for it at the public library. I believe I'm number 53 now! The agony!

But Twilight got me started on a reading jag. I've read The Count Of Monte Cristo, and I finished A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray.

I highly advise you guys to read The Count Of Monte Cristo. The movie is amazing, but the book is even better. Even though it's a little sad to see Dantes so obsessed with revenge, you keep holding out for a happy ending.

I also like A Great And Terrible Beauty. Just based on the back cover, I wasn't expecting much. I figured it'd be another girl goes to finishing/boarding school, is teased, makes one good friend, and then something happens and her life is perfect. It's not. Gemma grew up in India, and wanted to go to England and become a proper young lady. Her mother doesn't want her to. Something terrible happens, and Gemma's grandmother sends her to Spence. She becomes friends with her roommate, Ann, who is there on scholarship and isn't very popular at all. I think i'll stop right there, in the story line, but I'll tell you guys this. Gemma has visions. It's connected to her mother, and to Spence (her school).
There's also a little bit of a sub-plot with a boy. I don't know what to make of it, but I think it probably leads to more in the sequel.

One last thing. Panic! At The Disco... has a book club. I think it's pretty cool, since most people aren't like "Ooh, band. I wonder if they have a good book club?" You can get to it through their main website. I think we'll be reading The Picture of Dorian Gray next.

I'm accidently skipping class, so I shall go make up for it by studying. All of you should know that skipping class is not good! (especially when it's you that is paying thousands to go! eep!)

have a great day!

Read and Write

On the same thread as Danielle's post, Mrs. Foster received information today about the Letters About Literature writing contest. "Select a book that took you on a surprising or inspiring journey. It might be a recent journey or one you remember from your childhood. Then write a personal letter to the author, explaining how his or her work somehow changed your view of the world or yourself."--Quoted from the Entry Information Form for Letters About Literature. If you have any questions we also have the entry information form in the library. Entries must be postmarked December 8, 2006, you can turn them at the library or send them in yourself.

More Photos from Teen Read Wk

From 2006 Teen Rea...

Check out the new photos from Teen Read Week. The link is on the right!

I am what one would call a "tool"

I'm on pg 252. And I must apologize for all the times I said Twilight didn't appeal to me. I LOVE this book.

I thought I'd tear myself away from it to tell you guys.

The trip home was awesome. It got me motivated to not end up in Holmen again! Kidding. It was great. I'm going to see what book club type thing they have at my school, and get a library card for the public library. So, the Holmen motivation did get me going.

Okay. I can't stand being away from the book. I'll resurface after I've finished it!

More Photos--The Audiobook Toss

Check out more photos from Teen Read Week and the Audiobook Toss!!

2006 Teen Read Wk

Finally gave in

Hey. I was encouraged to write in this when I visited on friday, so I figured why not.

This'll be quick, because I have a paper due in a couple hours, but just wanted to let you guys (specifically Bee) know that I finally caved in, and will be starting Twilight after my psych class.

I also bought the Complete Wreckage, the entire set of A Series of Unfortunate Events. It's a really good series, even if it is meant for children. I mean, Narnia books were meant for kids too. That doesn't mean older people can't enjoy them, right?

Okay, well, I hope all of you are doing well. I've gotta get going. buh bye!

Teen Read Week-Library Olympics

Check out the photos from Teen Read Week. They will be updated daily after the lunch events. Don't forget to participate in the upcoming events...Audiobook Toss...Dewey Limbo...Book Club...Dress-Up Day...Closing Ceremonies!

2006 Teen Read Wk

I Am The Messenger -- Quotes

On topic...
For those of you who like quotes...this is one of my favorites from I Am The Messenger

Still, when she stands up, Angie Carusso thanks me. She asks my name, but I tell her it isn't important.
"No," she protests, "it is."
I relent. "It's Ed."
"Well, thanks, Ed," she says. "Thank you."
She thanks me a few times more, but the best words I hear all day come to me right when I think it's over. It's the girl, Casey. She twists herself onto Angie's hand and says, "Next week I'll give you a bite of mine, Mum."
In a way, I feel sad and empty, but I also feel that I've done what was intended. Just once, an ice cream for Angie Carusso.

This is such a great reminder to all of us that it is the little things. We don't need to make a big gesture to make a big impact. I think that if society just thought about what it was doing before it acted sometimes we would have a lot more of these moments. I hope that this book makes me or reminds me to think or change the way I might treat a person or do something that might not be that big of a deal to me, but might really affect that person. This theme is also apparent in the book/movie The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.