Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

I know many of you have already read it and are itching to discuss this book. Here is your chance. If you haven't read this book do not read the comments to this post THEY WILL HAVE SPOILERS!!!

So those of you who want to discuss post comments to this post. By the way I finished less then a week after it came out and am itching to hear what you all think!

Road Trip Photo & Information

Mrs. B said you all had a great time and Stephenie was wonderful. I hope to see more photos posted here (hint, hint) of the activity. I hope you are all enjoying the rest of your summer.

Remember it is a Scott Westerfeld summer and we are discussing his books here this summer with a lunch discussion on Thursday, September 13, 2007.

More Stephenie Meyer/Twilight series things.

Several of us from HHS were at the Eclipse signing with Stephenie Meyer last Friday, and I have to say, it was AWESOME. I knew that Elizabeth, her publicist, knew who I was, but I was pleasently surprised when Stephenie and Elizabeth both started to holler my name to get my attention and wave in between the Q&A and the book signings :P I already commented on this to the people that were at the book signing, but they could have had it set up a lot better. 20-30 chairs for 500+ people will give you an idea how prepared they weren't. Regardless, Stephenie was funny (as always) and it was a really fun night.

Over the past few days I've read several articles about her and/or Eclipse, which I'll link below, along with an excerpt of my favorite:

"Ask any high school girl: boys can be a pain. Fall for one who seems appealing, and he turns out to be a monster. One moment he acts like you don’t exist, the next, he drives you crazy by playing it cool — while his brothers circle you with hungry eyes. If you take a break to cut the tension, and hang out “just friends”-style with a younger guy who’s puppy-dogging you, what happens? Wouldn’t you know, he turns out to be a nightmare too."

-- New York Times book review
-- Wall Street Journal: After Harry Potter
-- Wall Street Journal article
-- Deseret Morning News: a Utah newspaper

Happy reading!

Stephenie Meyer Trip!

REMINDER! You must have your money and permission slips in by Wednesday!!

We are going! Here is what you need to know...

What? Author, Stephenie Meyer Q&A and book signing

When? Friday, August 10^th 1pm from the Kwik Trip parking lot in Holmen.

The event starts at 7pm at the bookstore. We have allowed time for travel and dinner. We do not have an end time for the event. Students will have access to a phone at Kwik Trip when they return home to contact parents for a ride home.

Where? Borders Book Store Woodbury, MN

Cost? The event is free! You will need to pay $15 for transportation. Bring spending money for food and any other items you plan to purchase.

You will find the permission slip on the HHS LMC's website, to be printed off. Permission slips need to filled out and returned to the High School Office by Wednesday, August 8th @ 3 pm. There are 6 seats available in the van--availability is first come first serve. Also, we need 6 of you to go otherwise we will cancel the trip.

If you have any questions email me, recbec @ holmen.k12.wi.us (take out the spaces before and after the @ symbol).

The Borders Book Club featuring Stephenie Meyer

Stephenie Meyer has won an enormous following for her very well-written page turners about a high-school girl who unwittingly falls head over heels in love with a vampire. What is a girl to do when the boy whom she obsesses over happens to not be human? This third book in the dark romantic saga, coming August 7, finds Bella at a crossroads as graduation approaches.

Click below to view The Borders Book Club featuring Stephenie Meyer. This video is quite long, and features Stephenie speaking with several fans about Twilight, New Moon, and her upcoming novel Eclipse. Enjoy!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

I would love to discuss this one with you. DO NOT READ the COMMENTS they will include SPOILERS!!!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows--Have you...

...finished it yet? I am about 1/3 of the way through it and realized I needed to do some homework for my class and came across this article which I thought some of you might enjoy. Jim Dale is the narrator for the Harry Potter Series on audio. I have listened to the first five on audio, Dale does a wonderful job with the voices of all the characters and I always wondered how audiobook narrators kept track of the different voices (I can barely keep track of two characters voices when I am reading picture books to my nieces and nephews!). The New York Times published this article last week: "The Voice of Harry Potter Can Keep a Secret".

Suggestions and a Survey

I am taking a class this summer on YA lit called "Making the Match." Next week 7/26/07-8/2/07, I need to read two books that teens have suggested, so I need some suggestions! I would like to read something new (some of you know what I have already read--so give me some different ideas and remember I have to read 2 of them next week!). Please put your comments in the suggestions. Also, next week I need to survey at least 12 of you. If you are interested in that, please comment as well. I have your email addresses, so you don't need to leave them in the comments.

More on Stephenie Meyer

Here is another article you might enjoy on Stephenie Meyer

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2007-07-12/news/charmed/

Happy reading!!

Battle of the Books 2007-2008

It is official this is the list...it looks like a promising list.

• Ask Me No Questions by Marina Budhos
• The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Boy in the Striped Pajamas: A Fable by John Boyne
• Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
• Eagle Blue: A Team, A Tribe, and a High School Basketball Season in Arctic Alaska by Michael D'Orso
• Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman
• Fairest by Gail Carson Levine
• Firestorm: The Caretaker Trilogy: Book 1 by David Klass
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling and Mary GrandPre'
• Heat by Mike Lupica
• Invisible by Pete Hautman
• Last Shot: A Final Four Mystery by John Feinstein
• My Sister's Keeper: A Novel by Jodi Picoult
• New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• The Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin
• Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon by Catherine Thimmesh
• The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
• The Thirteenth Tale: A Novel by Diane Setterfield
• Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

I know a lot of you have already read some of these and if you haven't there looks like some really good ones here. If you haven't participated in Battle of the Books before you should start this year. The idea is for a team to read all of these book (that doesn't mean everyone has to read all the books, but that isn't a bad idea) and know them inside and out before February when the state competition is. The more you know about the books the better chances you will have of answering the questions. You may start reading these books right now and watch for more information here and at school when you come back in the fall.

What is you favorite Westerfeld?

What is your favorite book by Scott Westerfeld? Why?

I had always really liked Uglies, but after reading both of the books in the Peeps series I think I might have a three way tie. I really like Westerfeld's ideas about vampires. It is actually a disease. I liked the way he brought a lot of information about parasites into Peeps. In a weird way, Peeps seemed a little bit more believable to me (ok I know that might sound like a stretch).

I haven't read the Midnighters Series, yet and was hoping to this summer, but I decided to take a Online course this summer about young adult lit. You guys better watch out--I am reading a lot of great stuff and getting some good ideas! Speaking of which if you need something to read, I would highly recommend Sold by Patricia McCormick--it didn't make me cry but it was pretty close. Sold has short, poetic chapters that make you keep reading and wanting to know more. Sold tells the story of a young Nepali girl who is sold by her family (knowingly or unknowingly, I'm not sure) into the sex trade in India. I will definitely be looking at it for book club next year and if you are in forensics I think there is some great material there as well.

Happy reading!!

Book Club!

Has anyone else been good about participating in book clubs over the summer? I just found out within the last week or so that I'll be doing one, and I'm really excited for it. I've missed talking with others about books I like/dislike.

It's kind of fitting, actually, since I was working during the Twilight/New Moon discussion that was at the High School that the book club I'm going to is to discuss these two books, and bits and pieces of the third.

Unlike our book clubs at the HS though, there is one difference: this book club will have the author at it. I'm thrilled for the opportunity and I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes--it will actually be video taped and used for publicity for Borders so I'll try and find the link and post it here after it's edited and whatnot.

Here's hoping the rest of you are having fun, book filled summers!

Summer Reading

What are you reading this summer?
I am about 3/4 the way through A Thousand Splendid Suns. It is an amazing book. I have cried and I have smiled--there is a touch of romance and is all about life in Afghanistan from a woman's perspective starting in the 1970s. It is by the same author as The Kite Runner--Khaled Hosseini. If you haven't read The Kite Runner it is a thought provoking must read much like A Thousand Splendid Suns. I would highly recommend either books.

John Green Interview

Recently John Green visited the Netherlands promoting his book An Abundance of Katherines. While there he did an interview. Check it out! It is almost as good as seeing him in person, he talks a lot about his books Looking for Alaska and An Abundance of Katherines, so if you haven't read either you may want to wait to watch the interview because he does talk about the endings of the books.

Happy reading!

La Crosse County--Summer Reading Program

More summer reading opportunities...

You can participate in the Teen Reading Raffle--for every book you read you receive a ticket to enter in a drawing at the library. Teen nights will be held at the Onalaska Public Library with a variety of activities. Check out their website for more information.

ZOMGGGGG!1!!!1!

Stephenie Meyer will be touring, starting on August 7th--the release date for Eclipse. So here's what my tenative week is going to look like:

August 6th: St. Paul --> Mall of America: Eclipse Release Party
August 7th: Read Eclipse, get some sleep, drive to Chicago --> Eclipse Booksigning #1
August 8th: A fun day in Chicago, assuming at least a few of my friends come --> Eclipse Booksigning #2
August 9th: Drive to Milawukee, spend the day with a girlfriend that lives there --> Eclipse Booksigning #3
August 10th: Drive home to my apartment in St. Paul --> Eclipse Booksigning #4

Wahoo!

I sent Bee an e-mail so hopefully she'll set up something for bookclub, either to come to the release party and a booksigning or maybe just a booksigning. Either way it's going to be a BLAST. Wisconsin area is certainly getting hit by Mrs. Meyer very well indeed on this tour!

New Poll--Summer Reading Time

Check out the new poll in the right sidebar. How many hours a week do you usually spend reading during the summer? After you vote you will be able to see the reults.

I love the summer because I read a lot more then I do in the winter. I get to spend time outside in the sunshine with a good book and on rainy days curled-up in my "reading" chair. I can't wait for a few hours of downtime.

Free Stuff to Do @ the La Crosse Public Library

The La Crosse Public Library is sponsoring a Teen Summer Library Program. There are a lot of great events that even I want to participate in! Breakdancing 101, Blood and Chocolate, Making Gocks, Mehndi, Manga & More, Madden '07 Tournament, other gaming and FREE PIZZA! For more information take a look at the Teen Connection Website.

The La Crosse Public Library recently remodeled and updated the teen area to make it even more comfy for hanging out on hot summer days (and other days too). Check out the open house on Monday, June 11 from 2-3 p.m.

Library Comic Strip--An Abundance of Katherines

Unshelved is a comic strip set in a library. I find it absolutely hilarious and occasionally there are ones that I just have to share. On Sundays, it is Unshelved's Book Club. This week they "presented" An Abundance of Katherines by John Green (also the author of Looking for Alaska and the funny video blog Brotherhood 2.o.


Used with permission. (Overdue Media LLC).

Oh my goodness!

Barnes & Noble @ the Mall of America is interested in doing an Eclipse Release Party, if I can find between 50-100 people who would be willing to come. So far my list is at 25 of people who I think would come but please please please let me know if you're not on the list and would want to come. Of course I'll have to check with everyone on it to make sure they'll come but this would be so much fun, and the twin cities isn't that far away. Wahoo for one last book event before the seniors leave?

Mrs. Rech
Mrs. Foster
Mrs. Bennett
Nissa T
Liz R
Danielle H
Danielle S
Jordan M
Megan O
Megan W
Sara L
Sami F
Stefi J
Emily L
Lauren/Haley
Nathen O
Sami M

Below this line is a list of people from work & the Twilight Lexicon, just to add a few more in number <33
Echo
Mel
Trinity
Jess
Tess
Moonlight_Sonata
Velvet_Night
Chaos

So far this list puts us right at 25, though Chaos told me that "some other people" from the Twilight Lexicon are in the area and would probably want to come--how many that is, I don't know. But oh oh oh I'm so excited!

For those of you who are questioning why not have a party in La Crosse, the lady in charge at our Barnes & Noble is...less than willing to host events. I actually complained to the corperate offices and will have a chat via telephone with someone tomorrow about it (yikes!).

BUT YAY ECLIPSE IS COMING OUT I CAN'T WAIT!!!