Young Lit for My Students (and me)

Lately I have thrown myself into some youth literature. I say that it is to pre-read for my students to see if I should buy a copy for my room, and it may have started out like that but it turned into something a lot more. A friend of mine was talking about these books she was reading at the beginning of the summer, I had the first book and I decided to give it a go. This was City of Bones I wrote about earlier. I was hooked. Cassandra Clare is in the process of writing two series dealing with the same basic concepts; Shadowhunters. I made the mistake of trying to explain this concept to a friend of mine and I failed.... miserably. So I am not going to try it here, I have learned my lesson. These stories are written for young adults, like the dreaded Twilight series. I have to admit that I liked the Twilight books when I first read them and then they were ruined by the movies. These two series make the teenage girl inside a happy girl.



The Mortal Instruments Series: City Of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls with the last being City of Heavenly Fire that is not yet published (ahhhhh) expected out in March 2014. They are making a movie but I am hesitant, I saw who is to play Jace and he is too pretty. Oh well, we will have to see.

What I like about these stories  is that they take the reader into another world. They are so easy to get lost in. The books are long but a fast read with some great character development. I enjoyed myself.

Family was the focus that I got from the first three in particular. Can you choose your family? How does your family affect you? How do they affect the person you will become? Can you really shake their influence if it wasn't very good? What is family? Last, how do you know if something is really evil?

These stories are filled with teen angst, but unlike Twilight, the main characters do something. They save the world and fight demons! Not a classic story but one that is enjoyable, very fun to read!

From what I understand, the first 3 books were meant to end the series but Clare decided to take it further with the last 3. She ran the risk of making it obvious that she meant to end the series and then wanted to make more money so she took it further, which usually means that the last three books are not as good. She didn't, the books do flow and the events do go together. New challenges and new reasons for the two main characters to not live a calm life. I love how the outer characters were developed in this last series, Isabelle in particular. She does a lot in the other books but later the story is told from her eyes for a while and it was great to get to know her and her take on what was happening.

The Infernal Devices Series: Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince and the soon to be released Clockwork Princess in March 2013.

I started to read these because I was going through withdrawal from the first series. I actually think that I like these stories better. It is set in Victorian England with the Institute in London. Her main character is now a Downworlder (not Shadowhunter or human, vampies, warewolves, warlocks etc) with a power she doesn't understand who is taken in by the Institute to help her and for her to help them. There are two boys there. There, our female Downworlder has a choice between two very different but great men. There are curses, poisonings, addictions and marriage, plus a woman in charge of the Institute, love her! Once again, family is called into question and what makes a family. Ready for the next book.

My issue with these books for my students is how long they are. They will see how long it is and then not try to read it. I was thinking about trying to break the books apart for my students. I don't want to mess with copyright laws but I need to find a way to trick my students... :-)

Good, enjoyable books that are fun to read.



Next, I am going to give The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand another shot. I know that many people either love Ayn Rand or hate her. I read this book in high school and thought it was ok. I am going to give it another shot and see if there is something that I missed.

Something on the Lighter Side

Two posts in one day? Radical!!!

I just returned from a trip with my family to New Mexico which was wonderful. Driving from Wichita, Kansas to Taos, New Mexico takes about 11 hours, which gives one a decent time to read. My brother and I were in one car and he ended up driving most of the way while I was in charge of music and entertainment. I finished my book by then end of the weekend.



After the denseness (yep it is a  word, my computer didn't underline it!) of Love in the Time of Cholera, I needed something a little lighter so I found Ellen DeGeneres' new book Seriously... I am Kidding. This will be a short blog since the best thing that I can say is that the book is a feel-good-book and if you need to feel good and to laugh... read it. Done!

Love in the Time of Don't Bother-a

Well I told you that I was not trying to make a snap judgment on the this book but it came true. I am not a fan of Love in the Time of Cholera. The premise of the story sounded really interesting. Two young people meet and fall in "love" (in my head it was lust, they were both really pretty) but then as time goes on she falls out of love and marries a man for his money and good name. He spends 59 years yearning after her, which should be romantic but I found myself thinking, "dude, she said no. No, what could she mean by no? I don't know she is being so unclear." He does not marry, he has numerous affairs, one with a 15 year old when he was in his 60's but this was supposed to be "saving himself for her." If a guy told me that he had saved himself for me but had numerous affairs and one night stands with random women, I would.... well let me just start with the idea of the story then I will get into my thoughts about it.

So the story. Two young people meet in a country that is being torn apart by civil war and cholera is threatening the general population. They fall in love even though neither had "good" names, she was higher than he was. Her father was not a fan and took her away for a few years in order to make her forget. Before she leaves, she agrees to marry him but by the time she returns, she realizes that she really doesn't love him and breaks it off. Then he gets sad, writes a lot of poetry, and sleeps with many women. She gets married to a rich doctor and does well, she is a "good wife" a little outspoken, but a good wife. They have kids and he gets popular and the family is well known around the town. Meanwhile (back in the cave of darkness) the lost lover sleeps with women older, younger, crazy (no really she escaped from an asylum), he even gets a woman killed by her husband by writing on her with a marker (genius). Then when Fermina's husband dies (falling off a ladder while trying to catch his parrot) the lost lover makes another attempt. After her husband's funeral, he still tells her that he is in love. I will make you read the rest.

First of all. He tries to get with Fermina one day after her husband has died, saying that I still love you even if I haven't spoken to you in 59 years. You have no idea who she is. Being a stalker and following her through her life does not mean that you know her. Plus, really? At her husband's funeral? Classy.

The story starts from the viewpoint of Fermina's husband, which I really liked. Yes, something that I liked. It would be really easy to hate the husband and root for the lost lover. However the tale of his death was almost the most moving part of the novel. As he is dying, he looks up to his wife and says, "you have no idea how much I have loved you." The two of them spent a lifetime together, through thick and thin. She did what she wanted and he cheated but they stayed, fighting. They lived a lifetime together, taking care of each other.

Last, every event in the story is told and retold by both the main characters so the reader got the entire story from each of their points of view. However... there was no warning when the point of view would change so there were times when so much was going on that your eyes crossed and the book was put down.

Bah! Happy that the book is finished. Had some interesting parts and the writing was interesting, I just didn't really like the story... or at all.

Next, I need a break. Ellen DeGeneres... Seriously...I am Kidding

Where to go from here?

So I figured out how to delete my blog and I almost did it. I have discovered as I read that I have little to say that anyone else wants to read. I am a teacher, reading books and talking about it. Not exactly going to get me my own TV show. So there I was. I had my mouse on the button and I couldn't push it. So no matter how many times I post or how many people post back, I am keeping my blog. Why? I really don't know but I got my answer when I suddenly didn't want to delete it.


I have gone off the list, gasp! sigh! I know. I just discovered other books that I wanted to read. Since summer has begun and it is REALLY HOT here in Kansas, I have been staying in my cool, clean house, not spending money and reading. So far since Lord of the Rings, I have read, A Remarkable Woman- The Biography of Katherine Hepburn. Wicked and City of Bones. I have a few things to say about each and then a short rant about our Public Library.

Actually, the rant first. My husband and I are trying to save for a down payment on a house. This means not spending any more money then we have to in order to live. That means for a girl with some free time, staying home and reading. Netflix is only entertaining for so long! This also means that I shouldn't be buying new books for my Nook, so I went to our library. There are several here in Wichita and I went to my childhood library, I don't live right next to it anymore but my work is out there and my parents still live close so I can always give books to my mom to return for me. Since there are so many branches, they trade books back and forth so you can ask for at particular book, the library will find it for you and get it so you can check it out from them! Great! Well I went to get the second book after City of Bones and they didn't have it. So I got Love in the Time of Cholera and went to request the other and then check out. The lady behind the counter was not to happy when I asked to reserve a book. She gestured over to the computers and said, "Don't you know how to work our system? You can do it yourself you know." I was completely taken back and told her that was fine, took my book and left. I get on the website only to discover that if you already have a library card, you can't get on their new fancy system, you have to get another. Doesn't that seem like a waste? Ok, so now that I have typed all this out, it doesn't seem like a big deal. However, I just want my book and I don't want to pay for it. Is that so much to ask?



A Remarkable Woman- Biography of Katherine Hepburn. I found this book on the bookshelf of my parents' house and started to flip through it. I took it home with me after lunch and I really enjoyed this book. She was a very strong woman, a little crazy and an inspiration to me. She did what she wanted, no matter what the audience, her peers or the House Un-American Activities thought of her. I want to be half as strong as she was. A good, inspiring read!



This was a book that I started reading in high school and really didn't like it. So it sat on my shelf for a while until I was ready to give it another shot. The second time was the charm, I found myself drawn into this book. It is a heavy read, lots of political and moral undertones. Are people born wicked or do they have wickedness given to them? My students love to say, "haters gonna hate" but when do those haters get to define who you are? That is the question that this book poses. Good read that makes you think.



After the heaviness of Wicked I was ready for a bit of a lighter read. Connected to Facebook is a website called Goodbooks, on it one of my friends was raving about this book. So I decided to give it a try. It was pretty good. It took a bit to get going but after many twists and turns you arrived safely, only to be left hanging since the series goes on for at least 4 more books and she is currently writing another. I will read the series, I enjoyed this book, but I am not going to rush out and throw elbows to get it.

Next is Love in the Time of Cholera, which is on my list. (yay!)

"Love in the Time of Cholera? More like Love in the Time of don't bother-a."
Robin Scherbasky How I Met Your Mother 

(I am not forming an opinion yet, I just really like this line.)

Gross things

I recently went camping at a camp near Ark City Kansas. This particular camp is located next to the river, surrounded by trees and on a hill. There are some amazing bike rides and hikes and camping to be had. There are also a lot of bugs and poison ivy. I am usually pretty careful but I seemed to have dropped the ball with this trip. I wore bug spray, I had socks and shoes on but I still got poison ivy and some nasty bug bites. I am talking rashes and bug bites that prevent me from putting shoes on. Lucky for me, it is summer and I did not have to go to school. I have spent a few days in the house with the AC on and a fan pointed directly at my feet. I spent a lot of time on Pinterest and my fridge is now housing some great things. I cleaned out the fridge and did some much needed dishes. These past few weeks have been so crazy that I am sad to say that I neglected the house for a bit. Well no more!!

We got some great knives for our wedding a while back and today I was cleaning one of those knives (since I have been told that the washing machine will make your knives dull in a hurry.) I managed to run the blade of the knife next to my finger and it left its mark. Now before you freak out and think that I sliced off my finger, I didn't. It is really a small cut, and a really great knife. The point of all this is the top of the band aid box that I used to bandage my poor, poor finger. The top of this box said, "You are going to be just fine!" Now I know that the box is not a doctor and they really don't know if you are going to be fine but I still felt pretty good reading that.

Since I have had all these rashes I have been on the internet a lot trying to figure out the best way to tackle it. Many medical websites will make you feel that you are on death's door because of a bug bite. Not the band-aid box, it was re-assuring! It said, "You cut your finger, you be smart and take care of it, you will be fine."

P.S. My finger is doing a lot better, as are all of my assorted rashes and bites. I am on steroids now!

The Lord of the Rings!!

     

 Truth is that this year at school, this semester has sort of sucked. When you become a teacher they give you this little schematic that shows how you should feel as a first year teacher. First, in the fall, you are excited and idealistic then as the year progresses, you become a little disillusioned and wonder if you made the right choice in careers. Then you begin to learn and to climb out of the negativity. By the end of your first year, you are a happy camper and a more experienced teacher. Let me just tell you that no one ever tells you about your second year of teaching. As a first year teacher you are simply trying to keep your head above water and keep your kids learning. Now, in your second year, you realize the mistakes that you made your first year and want to fix them. Let me tell you, that is a lot more work. I spent a lot of time being very,very angry at the world. I really struggled. I had some challenging behaviors this year that I didn't have last year. My I-Pod was stolen and I had my first student arrested on drug charges. But now I am three days away from a summer break that I really need, and I am a stronger teacher for it.


Correction, I am now officially on Summer break and looking forward to reading some amazing books and just being me. Not the teacher me, not Mrs. P, just me. The husband and I have camping trips, regular trips planned and in a few short weeks we will be riding across Kansas (blogs on that are promised, that is something I don't ever want to forget). So now I am back and reading to post on what little reading I was able to do this crazy, crazy year! 



I started The Lord of the Rings trilogy a while ago, after I had finished The Hobbit and now I am almost 100 pages from the end of The Return of the King. The truth is that I have started tons of different blog posts on this topic but there are just no words for it. I love these books. I am so tired when I get home and finally get to go to bed that it is wonderful to fall asleep reading this book. 


So in conclusion, I am not going to say much about this book at all. In truth I don't want to. I am worried that whatever I have to say, will not do this book justice. So I am just going to read and enjoy. This is a book about a time and a place with men and elves and hobbits and wizards strive to destroy the most pure form of evil. These men are gallant, swearing their lives to good and to a good cause. People are not like that anymore. There are no Aragorns, no Frodos and certainly no Sams. We can all be like these characters and we can all be like Sauron. It is up to your attitude. it is all up to you. 



I don't know what book will be next. It will be a surprise!! 

Thoughts on a Bike Ride

Today was an interesting day. We have had a difficult couple of weeks at my school. State testing, family problems with students and students in general just wanting it to be Spring Break. On the upside it has been a lot warmer these past couple of days so I can go outside. Yesterday I went running and today I fought the 40 mph winds and went for a bike ride. On this bike ride, I had some interesting thoughts.

First of all. We are working at school on noticing our positive to negative interactions with the students. How much to they hear of us saying negative things to them? How can we get the same results but be positive instead of negative? I thought what if that applied to yourself as well. I have been told time and time again that I am my own worst critic. I always took that as a point of pride, but it really isn't. If you cannot be positive about yourself then who else can? My husband and I are doing Bike Across Kansas this summer and I am sad to say that on some days when we go riding I find myself in the back of the line, cussing at the others in my head. Did I mention that I am ultra-competitive? What if instead of getting mad, I decided to take the advice that we are getting at school and focus on what I am doing well. I started counting sign posts that I passed. I also made a point of looking back and see how far I have gone.

Ok, this is the part where I get a little religious, or spiritual, whichever you prefer. If you don't want to read about my musings over a higher deity then stop here. Remember that movie, V for Vendetta? They say that God is in the rain. Well, I am going to change that a bit. I think that God is in the wind. Here in Kansas there is a lot of wind, today was no exception. I chose this day to ride out for 10 miles in 40 mph winds. So I found myself fighting 40 mph winds and at times getting pushed by 40 mph winds. If we extend our metaphor, that means that I spent part of the evening fighting God and being pushed by God. In both cases, I really like to be pushed more! However, it isn't until you push that you figure out the real power. When you are getting pushed by the wind, you don't really notice that it is there, or the real power of it. However, when you turn, and face it, wow... it is there. The crazy thing is that even when you are facing into the wind, there is still something back there, pushing. Wind whips around, I believe that the wind that is pushing, is God. Not the wind that you are facing.  Isn't that like life? Sometimes you have to face the wind, face the trails that are out there for you, knowing that God will be there pushing. So through all the stuff that is going on right now at school and the death of someone I really looked up to, I know that God is back there pushing. I found myself smiling, even when facing the wind. I am sore, tired and wanting a shower, but I am still smiling.

There and Back Again... A Hobbit's Tale

My earliest memory of The Hobbit is my father reading it to me when I was young. I remember cuddling with pillows as my dad read the adventures of Bilbo Baggins. He loved that book and really wanted me to like it too. I did. When we finished the book, he went on to read The Fellowship of the Ring. At least he started it, I think I finished it on my own. The elves were always my favorite. I for one really like when an author takes a legend like goblins, elves, dwarfs, wizards and the like, and takes it and makes it their own. I will forever think of elves as the elves in this book, no matter what other story comes along and defines them as something else. J.R.R. Tolkien has ruined me for other elves! :-)


I love the way that Tolkien writes. No one writes like Tolkien, no one has and I don't think that anyone will. I feel the same way about Jane Austen. You can always tell if she has written it, because it has a lilt to it. Tolkien is the same way. His writing is unique and many will try to copy it but I don't think that anyone really ever will. For your reading pleasure: "His heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of dwarves; and he gazed motionless, almost forgetting the frightful guardian, at the gold beyond price and count." (pg 169) Now, Tolkien could have just said that Bilbo was enchanted with the gold in front of him, but he doesn't. Instead he uses this flowing and descriptive language that really gives the reader a sense of how Bilbo was feeling.


I am going to mention one thing before I move on to more quotes that I love. Tolkien's characters are flawed. There is no character that is perfect. All have faults and all make mistakes. I love that about him. I struggle to embrace my faults and I love that even the heroes in these stories make mistakes and have to deal with them. Tolkien could be considered a Christian writer, he wrote many a speech and essay on the subject. I think that this is the reason his characters are flawed, because humans are flawed. The real judge of a good person, is what they do when they make a mistake, not if they make a mistake at all.


"Above him the sleeping dragon lay, a dire menace even in his sleep. He grasped a great two-handled cup, as heavy as he could carry, and cast one fearful eye upwards. Smaug stirred a wing, opened one claw, the rumble of his snoring changed its note." (pg 168-169) I highlighted this passage for the same reason that I highlighted the other one. Tolkien could have just said that he grabbed the cup and ran. Instead he allows the reader to become a part of the story. The reader feels what Bilbo felt. Hears what he would have heard. Beautiful writing.

"It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live hear him." These are words of advice. Leave out the dragon as a literal object, it is a metaphor. I see it as, if you are threatened by someone who is a part of your life, it does no good to not pay attention to him. I like how it doesn't say that the dragon is all you should think about, just don't leave it out of your calculations. I have a student coming back into my class that got expelled last year, now he is back. It has really been worrying me. If I follow this quote's advice, then I cannot leave him out of my calculations, however I should not lay awake thinking about how terrible it might end up being. 


"His rage passes description--the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before wanted or used." (pg 170) Social commentary anyone? I am blessed, I do have all that I need. Bilbo took a cup from a huge pile of gold, large enough for a dragon to sleep on. The dragon never took notice of it before, not until it was taken from him. Ever notice that? You never miss something until it is gone. 


"Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!" (pg 178) Ok, I used to frequent a bar here in town. (I am a teacher, sometimes I just need a beer!) This quote was written on a bathroom stall in one particular bar. I am not sure this is what Tolkien had in mind when he wrote this book. It took me a while to remember where I had read that quote before. But it is true, never laugh at live dragons, it is really not a good idea. 

Last but not least, we have to mention the ring. The one Ring... The ring that caused all the events in The Lord of the Rings, I love how the story flows, there are no holes, the ring is the same ring in both books. Gollum is the same Gollum in both stories, he is still driven by want of the ring. The ring still has power over him. 

The Hobbit is a wonderful story and a great lead-in to the more in depth Lord of the Rings to follow. My perfect pairing for this book is anywhere. It doesn't matter where you are, the story and setting will suck you in. It doesn't matter if you are in a doctor's office, in bed before you fall asleep or in a coffee shop, you will not care. You will be in a world of dwarfs, elves and hobbits. 

I am really excited for the Peter Jackson adaptation of this story. He did the Lord of the Rings justice and if anyone can make The Hobbit come alive, I think he has a good shot. Here's hoping! 


Next up, I may as well keep the trend going, Lord of the Rings it is! Fellowship of the Ring is up first!