CompSki's Books!

Recently Read:

Mal and Chad, Stephen McCranie
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, Maryrose Wood
A Mutiny in Time, James Dashner
Path of Beasts, Lian Tanner
Hide and Seek, Kate Messner
Notes from a Small Island, Bill Bryson
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J. K. Rowling (reread) (iPad)
Darwen Arkwright and the School of Shadows, A. J. Hartley

Currently Reading:

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J. K. Rowling (reread) (iPad)
Walking Jane Austen's London, Louise Allen (iPad)

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson
Divergent, Veronica Roth
Bitterblue, Kristin Cashore
Among Others, Jo Walton

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore
Beach Music, Pat Conroy
Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Jane Austen
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
In The Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
The Casual Vacancy, J. K. Rowling
11/22/63, Stephen King

Books I am Thinking About Rereading:

I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, Reif Larsen
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

Original First Post:

Well, the beginning of a school year is as good a time as any to start. At least that will give me lots of time in the summer to catch up!

I am currently reading A Short History of Everything by Bill Bryson. I like it, but I can only read it in short bits. It is taking forever!

On my profile I have listed books that I have recently read and books that I hope to read one day. Right now it looks like this:

Recently Read:

Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling
Big Stone Gap, Adriana Trigiani
Lost in Austen, Emma Campbell Webster
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
Lost in a Good Book, Jasper Fforde

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Reptile Room, Lemony Snicket
So B. It, Sarah Weeks
Flush, Carl Hiaasen
Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, Eoin Colfer
Twilight, Stephanie Meyer

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
Lord John and the Private Matter, Diana Gabaldon
Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond
Middlesex, Jefferey Eugenides
Bloodsucking Fiends, Christopher Moore
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
The Whistling Season, Ivan Doig
A Thousand Splendid Suns, Khaled Hosseini
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Mountain Betty, Hannah Mccouch
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Crashing Through, Robert Kurson
The Well of Lost Plots, Jasper Fforde
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler

It will be interesting to see how it changes over time. Besides these books that I haven't read, I am also planning to reread several books. Here we go!

Original Second Post



I did it! Last night I finally finished Bill Bryson's book. It had a good message, but I won't be buying the book. I try to check books out of the library and then I only buy it if I think I may want to read it again someday.

Now I am going to reread The Chamber of Secrets. I just bought a UK paperback on ebay.

Okay! I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Friday. Now I am rereading The Water Dancers which is set where I live.

The library is holding Twilight by Stephanie Meyer for me. I better read fast!

I finished Water Dancers last night. Still a good book! Even though I read it before, I couldn't put it down yesterday evening. Today, on to Twilight! Hopefully it is as good as everyone says.

I liked Twilight, but I don't know if I am on the bandwagon yet. I will have to reserve the next book, but I am not ready to read it yet. I have to let this one sink in.

Tonight I will start rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I recently acquired a British edition paperback and it will be my first time not reading the American version. Last January I reread one HP book a month, ending with the seventh book in July. Now I am rereading each book again knowing how it will all end. Yes, I am a geek!

Finished PofA last night. I think I liked it better than in the past. I used to really hate all that going back in time and waiting for what already happened to happened. It really bugged me in the movie.

Tonight I am going to start rereading Peace Like a River. I actually only remember bits and pieces from before, but I remember that I really liked it.

Whoops! Forgot to update this!

I think I finished Peace Like a River Thursday, November 1. I tried to read Selected Letters by Jane Austen but they were to hard to follow. It was like being dropped into an Austen novel half way through. I think it will be my in between book when I am waiting for something from the library.

Saturday I started reading New Moon and it has been good. I am well over half way through. I did get a little tired of all the self pity, though, but at least that is over.

Finished New Moon last night. It was good, but I didn't like it as much as some people do.

Tonight I start my reread of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Book count: 7 finished

Ooo. That took a long time! Just finished rereading GofF today. Couldn't put it down! Now I will move onto A Thousand Splendid Suns. I just got it yesterday from the library and it has to be back in two week. Unfortunately these will be a very busy two weeks for me. Conferences are coming up and then I am throwing a party. What am I thinking!

Book Count: 8

I think I liked A Thousand Splendid Suns better than The Kite Runner! I found it very difficult to put down.

Now I am going to reread Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris. It still makes me laugh out loud.

Book Count: 9

I started Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer this week. I am still waiting to be as crazy about it as everyone else.

Book Count: 10

Just finished Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. I like it much better than the first two Twilight books. More action, but I could have gone with a little less teen angst. I was planning to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix next, but it is my least favorite in the series because of all the teen angst.

Book Count: 11

Whew! Finally finished my reread of Order of the Phoenix! I was going to do one a month, and this was supposed to be December's. I think I will push Half-Blood Prince off until February.

I just started Little, Big. Everyone on Hogwarts Express seems to like it.

Book Count: 12 (O of P really threw this off; Hopefully I can make up some in the summer; L,B is huge; I won't be catching up with it)

Copied from Hogwarts Express Little, Big post:

Wow! I finally finished it. I really liked the writing and voice of the author. The characters were great, and thank goodness my book had a family tree in the front so I could keep everyone straight.

I am glad I read it, but I have to say I didn't get it. What was the Tale? Was there really a war? What made the loud noises? They all came together back at the house for the banquet? I got really lost along the way! Someone send me a guide that won't turn into a tree :) Please don't send me one of those fake Lilacs. Creepy!

Next up, I am thinking something simple. Maybe Mansfield Park or A Little Princess. Comfort books!

Book Count: 13

That's more like it. I just finished A Little Princess in three days. I really love that book!

Now, on to Mansfield Park!

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 8

Finished Mansfield Park last night. It took a lot longer than I remember.

I started Mountain Betty. There are some funny parts, but a lot of drug references.

Book Count: 15
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 9

Finish Mountain Betty earlier this week. Had some funny parts, but not a great book. The ending was kind of far fetched.

I am about to finish a reread of Little Lord Fauntleroy. Not sure what will come next.

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 9

Finished it! Now I am reading Urban Dog. It is about a Scotty!

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 10

Finished Urban Dog. Very cute and lots of laugh out loud moments. Parker is a lot like my Gregor.

I am not sure what to read next. I brought three books home from the library. I will have to decide tonight.

Book Count: 18
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 10

Finished Crashing Through last night. It was good. I kept hearing the author narrating my housecleaning. Not sure again what to read next.

Book Count: 19
First Read: 9
Rereads: 10

I finished Flush two nights ago. It got really good at the end and I couldn't put it down.

Now I am reading What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. So far there are some interesting facts. I might need to buy it for a reference book.

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 10

Good book, but short chapters. Interesting facts, but I had no trouble fall asleep at night. Needless to say that I never got very far.

Now I am going to start two rereads for book groups: Northanger Abbey for the Jane Austen group, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the Hogwarts express group. I am going to try to read HP five chapters a week like the rest of the group. I need to try to finish NA by the 15! Might not make it, but I probably still can participate.

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 10

Saw the movie Monday, finished rereading 1182691::Prince Caspian today. This book has some of my favorite Narnian moments and some of my least favorite. Still plugging away at the book club books.

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 11

This weekend I finished Northanger Abbey for the I Love Jane Austen group discussion, but I won't have time to really talk about it until after my trip. I did enjoy it more than other times I have reread it. I really picked up on when she pokes fun at novel heroines.

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 12

Finished Bloodsucking Fiends last night and loved it. Started reading on my trip and couldn't put it down yesterday. Christopher Moore is a genius!

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 12

Just finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince for the Hogwarts Express group read. I was able to keep myself to just five chapters a week and did comments on many of them. The book was still just as moving. Thursday I will start Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. This will be my first reread of that book.

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 13

Finish The Voyage of the Dawn Treader last night. Great book, but a lot of different stories instead of one big plot. Can't wait for the movie.

Book Count: 26
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 14

Last night I finished The Reptile Room by Lemony Snicket. It was cute. I like the vocabulary lessons and baby language translations. I am not sure if I really want to read anymore from the series.

Book Count: 27
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 14

Although I don't list them, I am usually reading a Foxtrot book by Bill Amend. Since he no longer publishes daily cartoons, I get my Foxtrot fix from these books. I just finished Enormously Foxtrot that I had started back in the fall.

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 14

Just finished The Well of Lost Plots, #3 in the Thursday Next series. I liked it, but you really have to pay attention to keep track of all the characters. I wish I have read more classics to get more of the inside jokes. In honor of the book, and the Jane Austen Group group read, I am going to start rereading Sense and Sensibility. I am also going to start Artemis Fowl, The Eternity Code.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 14

Just finished Sense and Sensibility. Loved it, of course. I did feel it was more preachy this time around. I noticed a lot about controlling your feelings and the contrast between Elinor and Marianne.

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 15

Finished The Eternity Code today. I really like these books and characters.

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 15

Wow! Over 600 pages in three days! This has really helped me get through my puppy problem. I really liked The Host, even better than her Twilight books. Great story!

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 15

I love how you put the cover of the books in your post....I am a very visual person!!!!...just might have to "borrow" that idea:) Did you read So B. It yet? I truly enjoyed the story....I am currently about to start the third in the Stephenie Meyer Twilight series...and the host will be soon. Today I finished Cruel Summer by Alyson Noel, an ARC book I recieved from LT, it was a quick read and a great YA story:) Happy Reading.....

Lora

Due to a slow magazine month, some missing newspapers, and a puppy "trial" I finished another Bill Amend anthology: Wildly Foxtrot. Of course I loved it! Some material was outdated, but that made it like watching "I love the 90's!"

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 15

No magazines yet, so I just finished Foxtrot Beyond a Doubt. Don't think I am a slacker because I have two Bill Amend books in a row. Since finishing The Host I am over 600 pages into Pillars of the Earth and over 200 pages into Breaking Dawn. These three books add up to over 2300 pages! I just couldn't wait to start Breaking Dawn, but I can't put Pillars aside, either. When done, I am going to reread a nice, short, comfortable children's book.

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 15

Done with Breaking Dawn. Loved it! I am planning to get a paperback box set someday and rereading most of the series (maybe not book 2). My notes are on the Breaking Dawn thread at Hogwarts Express. Warning, there are spoilers!

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 15

I did it! I finished Pillars of the Earth, and I really liked it, too. Good story, great characters, suspense, happiness. I think I will wait until next summer to read the sequel World Without End. One 1,000 book a year is enough!

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 15

Finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. What a book. I missed a lot when I rushed through it last year. It was nice pacing it to four chapters a week for the Hogwarts Express group read.

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 16

Finished rereading Little Men. A very comfy book if you don't let the preachy bits get to you.

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 17

Finished two books in one day! It does help that How Many Miles to Babylon? was only 150 pages. I liked it, but even though it is more popular on LT, I still like Fool's Sanctuary much better.

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 17

I just finished Autobiography of a Face. Very good, but the medical stuff was almost to much for me. I couldn't read it before bed and had to do all my reading during the day. Luckily I finished before school starts. I will wait a month or two at least to read Truth and Beauty.

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 17

Wow, 41 books in a year! The Lightning Thief was good. I loved the Greek gods from my old college lit class. I wish I remembered more.

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 17

New School Year, New Challenge!

My current list of what I have read and what I want to read is kept in the first post. To see how it has changed from year to year, here is how it looked to start the 2008-2009 school year:

Recently Read:

Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer
The Pillars of the Earth, Ken Follett
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, JK Rowling (reread)
Little Men, Louisa May Alcott (reread)
How Many Miles to Babylon?, Jennifer Johnston
Autobiography of a Face, Lucy Grealy
The Lightning Thief, Rick Riordan

Currently Reading:

Camp Foxtrot, Bill Amend
My Most Excellent Year, Steve Kluger

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

So B. It, Sarah Weeks
Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
Belles on Their Toes, Frank B. Gilbreth
Here, There Be Dragons, James Owen
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney
Hurt Go Happy, Ginny Rorby
Howl's Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones
The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
The Sea of Monsters, Rick Riordan
Brisingr, Christopher Paolini, Sep 20, 2008
Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke, Oct 1, 2008

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond
Middlesex, Jefferey Eugenides
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
The Whistling Season, Ivan Doig
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
Austenland, Shannon Hale
A visit to Highbury, Joan Austen-Leigh
Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
Lottery, Patricia Wood
Something Rotten, Jasper Fforde
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
Run, Ann Patchett
The Good Thief, Hannah Tinti
Truth and Beauty, Ann Patchett
World Without End, Ken Follett
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
Three Cups of Tea, Greg Mortenson

Yesterday I finished My Most Excellent Year and loved it! The story revolved around three high school freshmen and a six year old boy they help out. I still like Last Days of Summer better, but this was a great read.

Book Count: 1
First Reads: 1

Camp Foxtrot. Another great collection by Bill Amend. Now that I am reading my newspaper online, I will be reading more of these through the year.

Book Count: 2
First Reads: 2

Last night I finished Austenland. Stayed up an hour late because I couldn't put it down. I had to find out how it ended. A fun, quick read, but I didn't always like the way the heroine waffled back and forth.

Book Count: 3
First Reads: 3

I have decided that I am only going to count the Foxtrot anthologies toward my book total. The other books are too short. I am still going to record here when I finish them, though. I just wrapped up I'm Flying Jack, I Mean Roger.

I finished my reread of Fluke today. Christopher Moore is a genius! I have laughed out loud more from his books than any other author.

Book Count: 4
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 1

I am off to a good start for the year. Last year at this point I only had 1 book done.

I enjoyed reading Run by Ann Patchett. She created lots of strong, interesting characters for this book. It is not nearly as good as Bel Canto, but I liked it far better than The Patron Saint of Liars and The Magician's Assistant.

Book Count: 5
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 1

I was doing so well on beating last year and then I hit Brisingr. I liked most of it, it just took a long time to get through. Espy has changed the subtitle to "In Which Warrior Boy and Dragon Girl Do a lot of Pointless Things" which is fitting.

Book Count: 6
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 1

I am not sure why this took so long since I had most of it done already when I finished Brisingr. J. R. R. Tolkien's work really stands out as amazing stuff when you compare The Fellowship of the Ring to Brisingr.

Book Count: 7
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 2

Finished Little Women Saturday. Actually, this is a "Whole Story" book that has it as the original text with lots of illustrations and information. Nowadays what I read would just be considered Book I, because that was all that was originally published. I have decided to wait to read the rest until maybe summer.

Book Count: 8
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 3

Truth and Beauty was good, but I feel stretched after reading it. What a roller coaster ride that friendship was!

Book Count: 9
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 3

Wow! I loved The Book of Lost Things. Very dark and disturbing and definitely not for kids, but in a good way :) It is kind of a fractured fairly tale gone terribly wrong.

Book Count: 10
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 9

I read this for a book group and loved it. It's totally unlike what I would normally read and I thought it was very clever. Definitely not for children.

Finished my (bi)annual reading of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. Usually it is annual, but I didn't get to it last year. I love it and it really gets me into the Christmas spirit.

Book Count: 11
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 9

Finished Three Cups of Tea today. Great book and great life. What a way to make a difference in the world.

Book Count: 12
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 11

I actually finished The Tales of Beedle the Bard back on the fourth. It was great! Dumbledore's notes were wonderful and it was great to hear his voice again.

Book Count: 13
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 11

I loved City of Ember and couldn't put it down for the last third of the book. I am not sure if I will read the sequel, though. It has very mixed reviews on HE. I might just have to think they all lived happily ever after.

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 11

Earlier I was in a "blue" period, now it appears to be brown. Harry, A History was interesting. I really like the history of the Harry Potter phenomonon and learning how the book was picked up and published. I really had trouble getting through the chapters on wizard rock and fan fiction, since neither of those things has been any interest to me. Hearing about the authors personal Potter experiences was nice, but the best was when she told about the friendships made through mutual appreciation of the books. It reminded me of all my friends on HE and LT.

Book Count: 15
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 12

interesting books - and you're doing much better than last year! I hope you make it to 50 this time around!

After all these years I still really love The Westing Game. It definitely deserves the Kleenex tag that I gave it. I was crying so hard I couldn't read. Great characters, all sixteen of them, a challenging mystery, and very well written. Long live Turtle!

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 12

I really loved The Graveyard Book! Finally, a book that deserves the Newbery. Great characters and a great story that all comes together.

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 12

I finally finished Think iFruity and of course it was wonderful! Bill Amend is a genius!

I am no longer counting the Foxtrot books toward my yearly goals

Wow. The Book Thief will always be one of my all time favorites. I sobbed uncontrollably at the end and this was a reread!

Book Count: 18
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 14

I finished rereading Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone over the weekend. What an amazing book. How did she do it, even back then?

Book Count: 19
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 15

I wonder how many of us out there wish with all of our hearts that Hogwarts was real?! Wouldn't it be nice to look forward to magic classes compared to calculus?

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ yyyyeeeeeeeesss ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Finished reading Howl's Moving Castle last night just before watching the movie during the Hogwarts Express movie night. I liked the book, but it was confusing at times. There were some surprises, too, which was good. The movie was ok, but veered a bit from the book.

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 16

The third graders at my school reading Little House in the Big Woods and I thought it would be a nice, comfortable reread. I loved hearing about the life in the little cabin, especially in winter. Christmas was fun and the dance at Grandpa's.

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 17

I love that book!
--BJ

Read Sea of Monsters to and from my trip to Vail and really loved it. Great characters and great series. Lots of action!

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 18

Just finished rereading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets this morning. I don't remember it moving so fast from event to event. Much more action than the later books. Not my favorite in the series, but I can see why the movie is one. It really followed the book well.

I also finished Stephenie Meyer's Midnight Sun online this morning. At first it was refreshing to hear his voice instead of her self doubt and shyness, but by the end his righteousness and self punishment was almost as bad. I was glad it ended before the sparkly in the valley scene, but I wish the baseball game and ensuing events were included. I will not be counting it toward my totals.

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 18

I have got to read one of those Harry Potter books this year! Maybe this summer I will get one read.

My girls have all the Twilight books, but I don't think that they have read Midnight Sun. I wasn't sure that it was published yet. Is it only available as a download?

Have a great day!
--BJ

Hi! I'm new so don't have much of a profile yet. I'm trying to track down Advanced Reading Copies -new/used of any of the (Twilight Books) ((Stephenie Meyer)). Can anyone help?
Re: (Midnight Sun) - if you go to the ((Stephenie Meyer)) official website http://stepheniemeyer.com/midnightsun.html you'll find a link to download Midnight Sun. She won't be publishing it anymore (she explains on her website why). It's only 12 chapters and it is Twilight but from Edwards point of view. Very good...its a shame its not complete and won't be published.

Thanks for the link! :)
--BJ

Finished Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I did laugh out loud at times, but it was not as funny as I thought it would be. Middle school was not my favorite time.

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 18

I finished Something Rotten and really liked it, but like most Thursday Next books I felt like everything was going in many directions. So many plots! I will have to read the next one during the summer, so I get through it faster and be less confused.

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 20

Finished a reread of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Saturday and forgot to post. At first this was maybe my least favorite HP book, but it has really grown on me with each reread.

Book Count: 26
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 20

Reread Twilight and finished it Saturday. I liked it a lot better this time, and noticed things I missed before. I think seeing the movie and reading Midnight Sun helped with that. I really don't want to suffer through the second book, and I am not even that excited about rereading the third. Maybe this summer I will just have to skip to the fourth.

Book Count: 27
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 21

Tuesday I read the graphic novel Serenity: Those Left Behind. It did a nice job of filling in some of the gaps between the TV series Firefly and the movie Serenity, but I wish there was more. I am not counting this in my book count.

I really liked The Titan's Curse, but not as much as Sea of Monsters. I think as I get further in the series less well know mythology is going to have to be used. Sea of Monsters was great because so much of it was based on The Odyssey, which I remember from my Greek Lit class in college. I really didn't remember anything from this third book.

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 22

I am not sure when I finished Farmer Boy, probably last weekend. I love it, but sometimes I think it should be named A Boy, Some Food, His Calves, Some More Food, and a Colt.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 23

Just finished rereading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is one of my favorites! I had read it since DH, but I really noticed her setting up things more with this reread. Brilliant!

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 24

I finished The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet two nights ago. It was recommended to me by McLean and Eakin Booksellers. I really enjoyed reading it. The authors voice was completely in my head and narrating my life, which was not as interesting as the adventures of T. S. When I got to the end of the book, I thought there was another chapter and kind of felt "That's it!" It was an okay end, but I expected more. I would recommend it, though.

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 26

I read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I liked it! The zombie aspect was very interesting, but didn't change the plot as much as I thought it would. Similar to when I read Lost In Austen I kept wanting the parts I know to be done so I could jump to the new things. Also similar, I did not like the pictures at all.

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 27

Just finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Found the 20th century history of the Dominican Republic scary and fascinating. I love all the allusions to Tolkien, Marvel, Doctor Who, etc. I am most like the character Oscar, but I liked the sections about the other characters better.

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 27

I just read Battle of the Labyrinth, the fourth Percy Jackson book. I liked it better than book three. I think because, like book 2, it was focused around a particular myth. I am excited to eventually read The Last Olympian, but I am not sure if I need to read The Demigod Files first.

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 29

I just finished the last of the Foxtrot comics by Bill Amend, And When She Opened the Closet, All the Clothes were Polyester. It was very sad reading the last daily strip. I have to keep reminding myself to be happy that he at least still does Sunday strips. I will still need something to read when I am out of newspapers and magazines. I might just as well start over.

Finished The Professor and the Madman this evening. Very interesting and a quick read. I had never really thought about what was involved in the making of a dictionary.

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 29

Finished my reread of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix last night just a few hours after watching Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince!

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 30

My Aunt Nancy recommended Lottery to me. I really struggled with the first two-thirds of this book. I was worried for something awful to happen. For the last third I couldn't put it down.

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 31

I just finished reading Me and My Little Brain out loud to my summer school class. I think they really liked it!

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 32

I finished my post movie reread of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It is always so different reading it and knowing what it going through Snape's head. There were parts I loved missing from the movie, but except for Dumbledore at the Dursley's and Fluer in the Hospital Wing I didn't notice them until the reread. The first installment of the Deathly Hallows movie comes out in Nov. 2010 and then the second in July 2011. I am not sure which one I will do an HP reread for.

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 33

This morning I wrapped up HBP and this evening it was The Last Olympian. Loved the book and loved the series! I am glad he brought back Thalia. I was wondering why she entered the picture in one book only to leave it in another.

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 33

Last night I finished up my reread of A Walk in the Woods. It was just as funny as ever. Now I want to go hike the Appalachian Trail and that is quite an accomplishment for a book since I hate camping.

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 35

Last night I wrapped up Little House on the Prairie. There was a lot I didn't really remember. This ties me for beats last year!

Book Count: 42
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 37

I read 500 of the 1000 pages of World Without End, but I just don't have time to continue with it. I really can't identify with any of the characters and I can't read it fast enough to get through the bad people doing bad things parts.

Finished rereading The Time Traveler's Wife after seeing the movie earlier this month with mom. Loved it as always. I keep finding myself narrating my life in the voice of the author.

Book Count: 43
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 40

So, I beat last year! Not by much, I know, but still better. Here is how my TBR lists start out the school year:

Recently Read:

The Last Olympian, Rick Riordan
A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson (reread)
Little House on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder (reread)
The Time Traveler's Wife, Audrey Niffenegger (reread)

Currently Reading:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J. K. Rowling (reread)

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

So B. It, Sarah Weeks
Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
Belles on Their Toes, Frank B. Gilbreth
Here, There Be Dragons, James Owen
The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke
A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson
The Dragon of Trelian, Michelle Knudsen
The Penderwicks, Jeanne Birdsall
The Thief, Megan Whalen Turner
The Mysterious Benedict Society, Trenton Lee Stewart
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Kate DiCmillo
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond
Middlesex, Jefferey Eugenides
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Lisa See
The Whistling Season, Ivan Doig
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
A visit to Highbury, Joan Austen-Leigh
Far from the Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
The Good Thief, Hannah Tinti
The Secret History, Donna Tartt
Loving Frank: A Novel, Nancy Horan
Shakespeare: The World as Stage, Bill Bryson
First among sequels, Jasper Fforde
Brunelleschi's Dome, Ross King

Books I am Thinking About Rereading:

Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
On the Banks of Plum Creek, Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Red Tent, Anita Diamant
The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, Reif Larsen

Last night I finished my reread of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which also finishes my reread of the whole series. I might start another series reread next spring for the first installment of the movie next fall, or I may put it off until winter 2011.

Book Count: 1
First Reads: 0
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 3 (I am in trouble!)

Last night I finished The Thief. It took awhile to get into this book, but I really liked the last few chapters, which had a lot of surprises in them.

Book Count: 2
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 3

This morning I finished up Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King. It was interesting and informative. I can't believe they built it before Christopher Columbus even sailed, and that they were never able to build anything better until modern day materials and machines came along.

Book Count: 3
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 4

Last night I finished rereading On the Banks of Plum Creek. Although it isn't up there with Little House in the Big Woods or Farmer Boy, I like it better than Little House on the Prarie.

Book Count: 4
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 4

I really liked Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, but I am not sure if enough to reread someday. I really noticed the foreshadowing a lot.

Book Count: 5
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 5

I really loved The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian! I was worried it was going to be another Wimpy Kid, but it was so much better! Wonderful story recommended to me by my meet-up pals.

Book Count: 6
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 5

I just finished rereading The Devil in the White City, which was very appropriate for Halloween. I love the architecture story, too.

Book Count: 7
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 5

The Mysterious Benedict Society is another meet-up recommendation and I really liked it. The characters were very good and there were many surprises.

Book Count: 8
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 6

I finished An Echo in the Bone. I enjoyed it and it didn't seem as long as her last few books, even though it took me a month to read. *spoilers* I really didn't like how many cliffhangers she left at the end. Also, how did Lord John know that Jamie was supposed to be on the ship that went down? While I am at it, how did Ian find William in that huge swamp and then just happen to bring him to a doctor who is in love with his cousin who lived in England? */spoilers*

Book Count: 9
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 9

I reread By the Shores of Silver Lake. I am glad they are finally settling down.

Book Count: 10
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 9

Last week I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever like I try to do every year. The best Christmas story ever!

Book Count: 11
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 11

Holidays on Ice started out with a great essay about being an elf in Santaland at Macy's, but the rest of the essays did not measure up.

Book Count: 12
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 11

I had to sit at the dealership for two hours so I took along The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I loved it and devoured it in just over an hour. I did feel a bit foolish sitting in the waiting room crying. Thank goodness no one else was there.

Book Count: 13
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 11

Hey compskibook, I was wondering how you put the images of the books you're reading on the thread in each message. I would like to do it for my 2010 50 Book Challenge. Do you think you could tell me how to insert the images into the thread please? ^^

Also, I've been looking on other peoples 50 Book Challenges and have noticed how all the books they read I have actually never heard of, I read books that could be perceived as popular and I would just like to read something that isn't as well known as the ones I do read. So, if you don't mind, I may be referring to yours thread to see what kind of books you read. Me and you share a fair amount of books so I think we may have a sort of similar taste in books.

Jord :D

Finished rereading Bridget Jones's Diary yesterday. It was perfect for a Christmas/New Year book. Now if I could just find my Mark Darcy :)

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 12

Today I finished Here, There be Dragons. It had two of my favorite authors in it: C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkein, but there was a third character I didn't know, Charles Williams. I will have to look him up.

Book Count: 15
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 13

I just finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and I really liked it. As my friend LadyN said: It made me laugh, cry, and want to go to Guernsey!

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 14

I finished The Long Winter Saturday. It was far less tiring than before, maybe because it was so cold out here.

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 14

I gave Loving Frank two weeks and only got half way through. I am not in the mood for this book. This is the second book I have given up on in six months. There are just to many good books out there.

Yesterday I finished the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen, Belles on Their Toes. I liked it a lot, although maybe not as funny as the first.

Book Count: 18
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 17

All I remembered about my first read of The Red Tent was that it took a long time but I really liked it. This time I read it super fast (especially since I don't have much time to read in the winter) and I loved it!

Book Count: 19
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 17

Although I enjoyed reading A Great and Terrible Beauty the ending left me flat. I was hoping for a teenage A Little Princess and got a female Dead Poets Society.

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 18

I actually finished South of Broad on Monday, March 8, but have been too busy to update. I really liked it!

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 19

Last night I finished a reread of The Secret Garden. I love reading it in the spring. I almost feel inspired to go rake my lawn. Almost.

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 20

Although not as good as The Glass Castle, I really enjoyed Half Broke Horses. It is a good account of the life of the author's grandmother and the times she lived in.

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 20

I finished The Dragon of Trelian two days ago and really liked it. Good characters and not very predictable.

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 21

I finally got all caught up on your thread. Did you say that the next Harry Potter book will be divided into two movies? Or are there two books left to do?

I recently read Bridget Jones' Diary, too, and I loved it! Lots of good books on your list. I am hoping to read The Secret Garden this year. I have never read it before.

Have a great day!
--BJ

When I got my iTouch, I download the free Kindle App and some free books. I have been rereading Persuasion when I have had a spare moment and my purse with me. I just finished it today!

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 21

Finished Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal just two days after Easter. Loved it, as always.

Book Count: 26
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 24

I loved The Hunger Games! It was recommended to me by a ski student. Great story and characters. I hope the sequels don't disappoint.

Book Count: 27
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 24

I knew there was no way Her Fearful Symmetry could measure up to Audrey Niffenegger's other novel The Time Traveler's Wife, but I really didn't like it, especially the second half. The first half was entertaining; who wouldn't want to inherit a flat in London and have a twin to share it with. I didn't even mind the ghost parts, but who would believe you would go that far to get away from someone?

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 24

I think that I am the only person on LT who has not read TTW yet. But I have heard so many good things about it that I really want to read it this year. There is a group read in May for this book (Her Fearful Symmetry), but I guess I will pass on it -- especially since I haven't read the first one.
--BJ

Today I finished rereading Little Town on the Prairie. I am surprised how much I didn't remember, since I remember so much of the previous and next books.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 24

I liked Bite Me: A Love Story a lot. It didn't has as many laugh out loud moments as Bloodsucking Fiends or You Suck, but I think it had more action.

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 25

I actually finished Little Lord Fauntleroy two days ago at school. I am updating antiviruses and there are lots of lulls in the process perfect for reading off of my Kindle app on my iTouch.

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 25

I really liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, but it was very intense. I will have to wait to read the sequel this summer when I can get through it faster.

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 26

I finished rereading the Little House book with These Happy Golden Years. I don't feel that The First Four Years is part of the series. It has a very different, negative tone.

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 26

Finished The Lost Symbol today. I enjoyed reading it, but the ending was confusing.

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 28

I loved Catching Fire and I can't wait for the third book in August!

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 28

It is no wonder why Harper Lee never wrote another novel. How could anything measure up to To Kill a Mockingbird?

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 29

I finished my last meetup book: The Penderwicks. It was cute, but way too much getting into trouble for me.

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 30

Practical Demonkeeping is not my favorite Christopher Moore. It took me a long time to get into it, but the ending was good.

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 31

I really liked The Red Pyramid and I am very excited for this new serious. It may help that I just went to New York and saw the King Tut exhibit as well as The Temple of Dendur.

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 32

I think I liked The Girl Who Played with Fire even better than the first in the series! The only thing is the first book spent 100 pages wrapping things up and this one really ended abruptly.

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 34

Finished rereading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone this morning. Still wonderful after all these years! I must have read the British versions the last few times, because I didn't remember many of the chapter illustrations.

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 34

I like Gregor the Overlander, but it is kind of confusing when the main character is the same name as your dog!

Book Count: 42
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 35

Finished Middlesex yesterday. I figured I better read a Pulitzer Prize book that mentions my hometown in the first sentence. I loved the historical parts, especially about Detroit, but the transgender bits were weird.

Book Count: 43 (tied with last year!)
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 37

A hair appointment and an oil change helped me finish up Emma on my iPhone.

Book Count: 44 (A new record!)
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 38

I counted it last year, and I count The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever each year, so I might as well count Me and My Little Brain after reading it to my summer school class.

Book Count: 45
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 38

Finished rereading Eclipse. It is good with more action than the other books, but Bella's whining and self doubt is almost unbearable!

Book Count: 46
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 38

I read Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Tools for Classrooms for a class. These were subjects that always confused me and seemed over my head, but after reading this book I feel they are doable. Now to just find room for them in my curriculum.

Book Count: 47
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 40

Today I finished The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and I really liked it. The second one was the best, but this was still great!

Book Count: 48
First Reads: 29
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 42

Wow! Finished Mockingjay and really liked it! Still reeling and not sure how it compared to the other two.

Book Count: 49
First Reads: 30
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 42

Guns, Germs, and Steel took a long time to get through, but to be fair, I was reading some pretty great books at the same time. I just don't ever want to hear about plant domestication ever again, and I am setting a page limit for nonfiction books. From now on, nothing more than 250 pages!

Book Count: 50!
First Reads: 31
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 43

Congratulations on reaching 50!
--BJ

Thanks BJ!



Finished a reread of Breaking Dawn this morning. It is amazing to me how everything pretty much goes right, but it is still a good read.

Book Count: 51!
First Reads: 31
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 43

School Starts tomorrow, so here goes another 50 Book Challenge. Actually, the challenge will have to be to get to 52 books! For posterity, here is my current first post:

Recently Read:

Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer (reread)
Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for the Classroom, Will Richardson
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Stieg Larsson
Mockingjay, Suzanne Collins
Guns, Germs, and Steel, Jared Diamond
Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer (reread)

Currently Reading:

Eight Cousins, Louisa May Alcott (reread)(iPhone)
The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, Kelly O'Connor McNees

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
Inkdeath, Cornelia Funke
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson
The Queen of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, Trenton Lee Stewart
I, Juan de Pareja, Elizabeth Borton de Treviño

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Boleyn Inheritance, Philippa Gregory
Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
First among sequels, Jasper Fforde
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore
Beach Music, Pat Conroy
Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Jane Austen
The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, Christopher Moore

Books I am Thinking About Rereading:

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, JK Rowling
Inkheart, Cornelia Funke
The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, Reif Larsen
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

I really liked The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. There were some twists I didn't see coming. Bib had gotten the Early Reader edition and the author came to my bookstore, so I thought I would give it a try.

Book Count: 1 (starting over is so scary)
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 0

I liked The Queen of Attolia. The only hard part was trying to remember all the names and nations from the first book I read a year ago. I will have to read the third book sooner.

Book Count: 2
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 2

Finished Seabiscuit this afternoon, crying through the last few chapters. It is a great book telling a great story. My all time favorite nonfiction.

Book Count: 3
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 3

We have a copy of that book lying around here. I should read it. I loved the movie.
--BJ

It is one of those rare books where the movie is just as good!

Our school librarian recommended I Am Number Four and I finished it yesterday. I really liked it, even though I am not a big "aliens among us" fan. I hope the author comes out with more.

Book Count: 4
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 4

I finished rereading Eight Cousins yesterday on my iPhone. I liked it and I plan to reread Rose in Bloom at some point, but I don't remember her books being so preachy.

Book Count: 5
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 6

It took me a long time to get into The Shadow of the Wind, but once I finally got half way I flew through the rest.

Book Count: 6
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 6

I finished Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I am a little behind with my series reread, but since I only planned to reread one every other month I have plenty of time.

Book Count: 7
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 6

Finished The King of Attolia today. I liked it, but after what everyone else said, I expected more. Great characters, though, especially Gen.

Book Count: 8
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 7

I enjoyed The Lacuna and learned a lot about Mexico, communism, and art.

Book Count: 9
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 8

Getting ready for the new Narnia movie by rereading the beginning of the series. Finished The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe last night.

Book Count: 10
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 8

Oh, I should do that. Then again, I was so irritated by the changed they made to Prince Caspian, maybe I shouldn't. . . .

I liked A Conspiracy of Kings, but I wish there was more Gen and maybe less Saphos. Also, why introduce the guard character in the last book and leave him out in this one?

Book Count: 11
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 8

I enjoyed The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, but I was surprised there weren't more characters from Practical Demonkeeping. They were set in the same town, and the characters that did show up were just brief cameos.

Book Count: 12
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 8

I finished Prince Caspian last night. Now I am ready for the movie! I will read the next book after that.

Book Count: 13
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 8

After many years, Laura Hillenbrand has finally come out with a new book: Unbroken. It was great, but not as good as Seabiscuit. I don't think anything can top that.

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 10

I really enjoyed The Lost Hero, but I am worried the next book in the series might be too similar.

Book Count: 15
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 13

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever is still wonderful, but I think it gets small each year.

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 13

Yesterday I finished rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Although it was never one of my favorite HP books, it grows on me every time I read it.

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 14

Stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year!

Have you ever seen the movie The Best Christmas Pageant Ever? My daughter heard about this movie about 15 years ago, but I have never found it anywhere. Apparently it is terrific.
--BJ

You Had Me At Woof: How Dogs Taught Me the Secrets of Happiness was a cute book, but I don't see what it had to do with the secrets of happiness so much. It is more of a memoir of the authors experiences with dogs, mostly with a canine rescue organization. I laughed and cried and saw myself at many parts, though.

Book Count: 18
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 15

The Exile was okay, but I expected more.

Book Count: 19
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 15

I like the way you do a comparison between this year and last year. And how you keep first reads and rereads separate. Good luck on the 50 books during the school year.

I finished rereading Pride and Prejudice on my iPhone. It is just as great!

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 17

Finished a reread of Inkheart. Very good book, but I am not sure why it took me so long. Since I wasn't too thrilled with the second, I might have to skip the third.

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 17

I have been meaning to read that book for a long time. I think maybe there is a movie of it. My daughter loved it, but didn't like the later books, either.
--BJ

Last night I finished This House of Sky. I liked it, but I have to remember not to read nonfiction this time of year. It takes me a while to get through them.

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 19

I can't believe that I never found I, Juan de Pareja before this, especially since I have gone through Newberry and Velazquez kicks in my lifetime. Even though it is fiction I feel like I know the artist better.

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 20

Yesterday I finished rereading Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Two more rereads before the final movie!

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 23

I really liked American Gods although it was confusing at times. It felt a lot like a Christopher Moore novel for awhile.

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 11
Last year at this point: 25

Finished reading Rose In Bloom on my iPhone. It must have been hard to live with Louisa May Alcott. You have to be social, but not too social. You have to read the right kind of books, etc.

Book Count: 26
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 25

#191 -- I imagine she got a lot of her ideals from her father, who would, I believe, be an even harder person to live with!

I think you are right, foggi!

I really liked Major Pettigrew's Last Stand and would recommend it to anyone who likes British books and culture. A good cup of tea is the answer to anything!

Book Count: 27
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 26

It took me a while to get into it, but I ended up liking The Weird Sisters. I think I would of liked it more if I had read more of Shakesphere's plays. I did like the second person narrative, though. Very original.

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 27

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has some of my favorite HP parts (like the DA) but some of my least favorite, too (like angst and SPEW). I enjoyed rereading it, but I am really looking forward to HBP in June.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 29 (eek!)

I was given Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out for Christmas in 2008. I have been reading it little by little when in between books. I really liked it!

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 29

I reread Fool's Sanctuary about every year or so. I love it and it helps me shake off my spring doldrums.

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 30

Since the movie isn't coming out until next spring, I thought this would be a good time to reread The Hunger Games. What a great book!

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 31

I decided to read the entire series at once. Catching Fire was great, of course.

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 32

I don't think I have read a series straight through since high school, maybe even middle school. Yesterday I finished the Hunger Games trilogy with Mockingjay. I was in a book slump, but hopefully this got me out of it.

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 33

The Boleyn Inheritance was a good read, but not as good as The Other Boleyn Girl.

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 33

Jacob Have I Loved was a well told story, but I was expecting more of a big ending.

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 33

Ten years ago, Bel Canto was the first book I read when I was hired b the local bookstore. I loved it, and an looked forward to many such book recommendations. Unfortunately nothing ever measured up.

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 35

I really enjoyed The Emerald Atlas and I am looking forward to the rest of the series someday.

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 36

I really liked The Invisible Bridge. It felt like two books in one, a story about artists in prewar Paris, and then the war years from the perspective of Hungarian Jews.

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 38

Every other month or so I have been rereading a Harry Potter book in anticipation of the last movie in July. Last night I finished Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I am thinking it just may be my favorite! I may have to at least start the next book before the movie, but I will not go past when they arrive at Shell Cottage. If I read too much, it tends to ruin the movie for me.

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 39

State of Wonder was a very good book by Ann Patchett. Not as good as Bel Canto, but close!

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 39

I really like having two narrators in Rick Riordan's Kane series. The Throne of Fire was very good. It takes me back to my Egypt phase.

Book Count: 42
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 41

Last night I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and my reread of the series for the final movie. I actually listened to parts of this book on my way to a friends to see the movie. I liked listening, except for the reader's voice for Hermione. He made her sound way too whiny.

Book Count: 43
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 42

First Among Sequels was a good read, although a bit confusing at times. Jasper Fforde does a great job, though, with this Thursday Next series.

Book Count: 44
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 43

I really liked The Help. I wonder if I could ever be as brave as the women in the story.

Book Count: 45
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 45

I really liked Gloria Whelan's new book See What I See. It begins here in Northern Michigan, and then most of the book takes place in Detroit. It is very complimentary to both places.

Book Count: 46
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 46

The Last Days of Summer is one of my most favorite books, if not the favorite. It is an epistolary novel that will make you laugh and cry. Find it and read it!

Book Count: 47
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 21
Last year at this point: 46

This year I read The Mad Scientists' Club to my summer school class. They liked it for the most part, but some of it was over their heads or outdated.

Book Count: 48
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 46

The Sparrow was wonderfully written and has some great characters. I enjoyed reading it, but the end was hard to get through.

Book Count: 49
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 47

The Sparrow was too intense to read before bed, so I read The Voyage of the Dawn Treader instead. One of my favorites in the Narnia series.

Book Count: 50!
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 23
Last year at this point: 47

Congratulations on reaching 50!

Thanks, Foggi! I want to see if I can beat last year and get to 52 before school starts.

I liked The Secret of Platform 13, but it is odd how some things were similar to HP books. I think it was written before the first book, though.

Book Count: 51 (Tied with last year!)
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 23
Last year at this point: 47

Bill Bryson's A Walk In the Woods is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It is also informative and makes me want to go hiking and camping! This is no small feat!

Book Count: 52 (New Record!)
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 49

A Walk in the Woods and In a Sunburned Country are my favorite (funniest) Bryson books by far! Glad you enjoyed it so much.

Thanks, karspeak. I just added In a Sunburned Country to my TBR list.

Yesterday I finished The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making. I liked it in the end, but kept checking to see how far I had to go while reading it. I think it is because of the upcoming school year.

Book Count: 53!
First Reads: 29
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 51

School started two days ago, so time for a new challenge. I moved from teaching elementary computers to fourth grade, so I am not sure how that will effect this year's challenge. I will have less time and energy to read on my own, but I will be reading a book to my class.

Here is a copy of my first post as of today:

Recently Read:

The Sparrow, Mary Doria Russell
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, C. S. Lewis (reread)
The Secret of Platform 13, Eva Ibbotson
A Walk In the Woods, Bill Bryson (reread)
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, Catherynne Valente

Currently Reading:

Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens (reread)(iPhone)
The Last Lecture, Randy Pausch

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson
Divergent, Veronica Roth
The Power of Six, Pittacus Lore (August 23)
The Son of Neptune, Rick Riordan (October 4)
Inheritance, Christopher Paolini (November 8)

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore
Beach Music, Pat Conroy
Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Jane Austen
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Rhoda Janzen
In The Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson
One of Our Thursdays is Missing, Jasper Fforde
Bossypants, Tina Fey
The Paris Wife, Paula McLain
In a Sunburned Country, Bill Bryson

Books I am Thinking About Rereading:

The Glass Castle, Jeannette Walls
I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
The Graveyard Book, Neil Gaiman
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, Reif Larsen
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

I really liked The Last Lecture! It helps put things into perspective.

Book Count: 1
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 0

Friday I finished reading Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing to my class. They loved it and loved Fudge!

Book Count: 2
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 1

Today I finished rereading A Little Princess. I needed a feel good read, and this is the best!

Book Count: 3
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 1

Friday I finished rereading Me Talk Pretty One Day and had many laugh out loud moments. Love it!

Book Count: 4
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 3

A friend gave me Dr. Dredd's Wagon of Wonders for my class. I really liked it, but not sure if it will be right for a fourth grade read aloud.

Book Count: 5
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 4

Mmmussst NOOOT pull my copy of A Little Princess off shelf to re-read right NOW!

Good luck with that, ronincats!



I read The Horse and His Boy to my class and they really liked it!

Book Count: 6
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 4

Mennonite In a Little Black Dress was okay. There was some laugh out loud moments, but she seemed to dwell a lot on her ex-husband.

Book Count: 7
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 4
Last year at this point: 5

It took awhile, but I finished Oliver Twist on my iphone.

Book Count: 8
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 6

The Graveyard Book is really amazing and perfect for this time of year!

Book Count: 9
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 6

I finished reading Hatchet to my class this week. They really liked it and grabbed all the sequels off the shelves.



I also read Because of Winn-Dixie with my small reading groups. They liked it, too, and loved to do the voices.

Book Count: 11
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 7

Sounds like you are having a lot of fun reading to your class!

It is one of my favorite parts! It certainly is adding to my reading total for the year! Be sure to pass on any recommendations, Foggi!

I finished In a Sunburned Country last night. Bill Bryson is a genius, but he is causing a rift between my dog and me. Gregor hates it when I read in bed and laugh out loud when he is trying to sleep!

Book Count: 12
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 8

Yea, glad you liked it!

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer was okay, but kind of left me hanging. I bought it for my classroom library and thought I better start reading some of these new books.

Book Count: 13
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 9

I reread The Glass Castle: A Memoir and it is still as amazing as ever. I am really impressed I managed to finish it on Thanksgiving and the last chapter is a Thanksgiving get together.

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 11

This week I finished reading Farmer Boy to my class. There were parts they really liked and parts that may have dragged a bit.

Book Count: 15
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 13

Rick Riordan does a great job with fantasy books. I finished The Son of Neptune. I just might have to get it in hardcover for the class.

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 14

Lots of laugh out loud moments from Tina Fey's Bossypants.

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 10
Last year at this point: 14

Last week I finished reading The Westing Game with my class, and then I read The Best Christmas Pageant Ever to them. They loved both stories!

Book Count: 19
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 16

I enjoyed The Power of Six, but I felt there was some backpedalling on the part of the author. He made up rules about the aliens in the first book and then changes his mind for the second and makes and excuse for why.

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 16

The Paris Wife was entertaining, but I wish I had read more Hemingway. I think I may have missed things. Unfortunately the subject was not too uplifting.

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 12
Last year at this point: 17

I read Sarah, Plain and Tall with my reading groups. Great book and a nice warm up for the new year.

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 13
Last year at this point: 17

My class really liked The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I wish we could go see the movie!

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 19

I really enjoyed Inheritance much more than the other sequels and maybe as much as the first book Eragon. Even though the ending did feel a bit drawn out (in true Tolkien style) I still wish there was an Epilogue letting us know about the characters a few years down the line. This is also the first book I read on the Kindle I inherited from my dad.

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 19

Note to self: don't buy graphic novels of your favorite books. The Outlander version was bad enough, Pride and Prejudice (Marvel Classics) was awful. Never do we hear Mr. Darcy (referred to as "Darcy" through the book!) is intended to mary Anne Deburg, but Lizzy talks about how she will make him a proper wife. During the proposal they skip the line "had you behaved in a more gentlemanlike manner," but Mr. Darcy refers to it at the end! I probably could have overlooked all of this if the illustrations had been "tolerable." It was hard to tell the girls apart and Lizzy's eyes were half closed most of the time. The illustrator of the cover would have been great, but the inside of the book was a completely different style.

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 11 (this was too awful to suffer through to consider a reread)
Rereads: 14
Last year at this point: 20

Thanks for the warning on the graphic novel of Pride and Prejudice!

I read Theodore Boone: The Abduction. I liked it, but not sure if it should go in my class library. Everything turns out okay, but may be too much for a kids imagination

Yesterday I finished reading From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler to my class. They really liked it, especially the main characters and the way they interacted.

Book Count: 27
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 20

Last night I put off baking cookies and watching Downton Abbey to finish reading Ready Player One. A great page-turner and 80's geekfest!

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 21

Today I finished reading The Cricket in Times Square with my reading groups. It is a very cute book.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 15
Last year at this point: 21

Yesterday I finished rereading Sense and Sensibility on my iPhone. Loved the book, of course, but I have decided I really like the Kindle app better than iBook. The latter takes too long to load.

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 21

I read Graceling for the Hogwarts Express group book read and really enjoyed it. I plan to read the sequel Bitterblue when it comes out in May, but I am not sure if I will read the prequel Fire.

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 16
Last year at this point: 21

Every few years or so I reread Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff around this lent/Easter time of year. It is the greatest!

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 17
Last year at this point: 23

Reread Little Lord Fauntleroy on my iPhone. What a wonderful story!

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 23

I read Stone Fox with my small reading groups in class. Not only was it pretty embarrassing to cry in front of my students, I did it with both groups!

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 23

Our media specialist gave all the teachers in our school a copy of Wonder. It is an amazing book!

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 23

One of Our Thursdays is Missing is not about Thursday, but about the written Thursday trying to find her. It was kind of fun, because it felt like I was playing Thursday.

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 18
Last year at this point: 25

After seeing the movie, I decided I needed to reread The Hunger Games. Still a great book!

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 26

Although not as good as the original, The Humming Room was a very enjoyable modern day version of The Secret Garden.

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 26

The Twelfth Enchantment was okay. Very confusing at times and left me with some questions.

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 19
Last year at this point: 27

Catching Fire. I can't wait for the movie!

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 28

I bought The Name of This Book is Secret for my classroom library. I think the kids will like it, especially the mystery parts.

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 20
Last year at this point: 29

A few days back I finished The Princess of Trelian, and yesterday I finished rereading The Red Pyramid. The first book was good, and I look forward to the third Trelian book someday. Like most sequels, there were some threads left hanging. The other book I read to my class. They loved it, but I had no idea it would take so long.

Book Count: 43
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 21
Last year at this point: 32

I read The Dragon of Trelian a couple of years ago--it was a decent kid's fantasy. How is the new one?

I enjoyed it, ronincats.



Earlier this week I finished rereading Mansfield Park on my iPhone.

Book Count: 44
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 33

I love the show Downton Abbey and was given The World of Downton Abbey for my birthday. I enjoyed it a lot, but would have loved to have see a floor plan for the house, not to mention some details on the artwork. Maybe there is another book out there for that.

Book Count: 45
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 34

I finished The School Story last weekend, but forgot to post. Very cute story that I started reading with my small reading groups. They finished it while I was gone for surgery.

Book Count: 46
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 34

The Serpent's Shadow was enjoyable, but I felt some themes were repeated from previous books in the series. I would still recommend it!

Book Count: 47
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 22
Last year at this point: 37

Even though I have read it twice before, I still was crying at the end of Mockingjay. Great book in a great series!

Book Count: 48
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 23
Last year at this point: 37

I starting reading The Secret Garden to my class, but didn't get to finish before school got out. I finished it up on my Kindle app instead.

Book Count: 49
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 38

Wonderstruck is another great book by Brian Selznick. The pictures tell a story from the 1920's and the words a story from the 1970's.

Book Count: 50! Already!
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 38

Prairie Evers is a very good book about a girl adjusting to a new school, making friends, and keeping friends.

Book Count: 51
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 38

Congrats on passing 50 already!

Thanks Foggi! Reading in class really helped!

Tuesdays at the Castle is a cute fantasy for middle readers about a magic castle that can change and add rooms.

Book Count: 52
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 38

Darwen Arkwright and the Peregrine Pact is a great fantasy set in present day. Also good for kids at a new school, anti-bullying and making friends.

Book Count: 53! Tied with last year!
First Reads: 29
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 40

Death Comes to Pemberly was enjoyable. It was fun to see what the author thought would happen after Pride and Prejudice even though I may not have agreed with everything.

Book Count: 54! New record!
First Reads: 30
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 41

Yesterday I finished Theodore Boone: The Accused. I always enjoyed John Grisham's thrillers, but they were sometimes to intense or scary. This kids series is perfect!

Today I finished The Tiger Rising. A quick, good read, and it seems that Kate DiCamillo seems to like to make me cry.

Book Count: 56
First Reads: 32
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 41

Forgot to post The Art of Racing in the Rain which I finished two days ago. Wonderful book from a dog's point of view.

Book Count: 57
First Reads: 33
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 42

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane was a good book, and of course I love the title character!

Book Count: 58
First Reads: 34
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 42

Kindred Souls was a quick but touching story. It is listed as part of the Sarah, Plain and Tall series, but I am not sure how it is related.

Book Count: 59
First Reads: 35
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 42

Although they don't count toward my book total, I am also trying to read more picture books. Some I am buying and some are from the public library. Ideas for class are in parentheses.

I Want My Hat Back (Sock puppets App?)
Boy and Bot
A Ball for Daisy (Caldecott, excellent example of telling a story without words)
Miss Martin is a Martian (1-2 grade introduction to iPad Notes)

A Jane Austen Education had great insight and was a nice way to review her novels.

Book Count: 60
First Reads: 36
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 43

More picture books and ideas:

Grandpa Green (Early El for Grandfriend Day, draw something about friend)
City Dog, Country Frog (seasons, friendship, city/country)
Dragons Love Tacos

I really liked The False Prince and couldn't put it down at the end. I can't wait for the next one in the series!

Book Count: 61
First Reads: 37
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 44

Two Crafty Criminals was good, but I think it would be hard for kids today to handle the Victorian era slang.

Book Count: 62
First Reads: 38
Rereads: 24
Last year at this point: 46

I read The Bad Beginning to my summer school class. I think they liked it, but were not terribly into it. It was a perfect length, though, which is hard for a four week class.

Book Count: 63
First Reads: 38
Rereads: 25
Last year at this point: 46

I just found your thread and I've enjoyed reading it! I'll be keeping up with you from here on :)

Thanks, Tina!



The Night Circus was magical in more ways that one. I would recommend it to anyone!

Book Count: 64
First Reads: 39
Rereads: 25
Last year at this point: 48

I also LOVED The Night Circus! Saying it is "magical in more ways than one" is SO very true! Well put!

I had been rereading Northanger Abbey on my iPhone. Very funny how she makes fun of the gothic novels of her time.

Book Count: 65
First Reads: 39
Rereads: 26
Last year at this point: 48

My dog passed away this week, and I reread Love That Dog in his memory.

Book Count: 66
First Reads: 39
Rereads: 27
Last year at this point: 48

I thought I better read Hate That Cat while I am at it. Very cute. These books might be great for a poetry unit in April.

Book Count: 67
First Reads: 40
Rereads: 27
Last year at this point: 48

Picture books!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, story from Oscar winning short, cool interactive app.

This Plus That, equations, sum is more than the parts

I'm so sorry about your dog :(

When my cat passed in January, I had to read several books of comfort. *sniff, sniff*

Hugs!

Thanks, Tina. It has been hard, but the books help.



Hero was okay, but I feel like it took forever to get started.

Book Count: 68
First Reads: 41
Rereads: 27
Last year at this point: 51

Picture books!

Owly (graphic novels): very few words, speech bubble with pictures, guess at meanings, goes with poster in media center.

We Are in a Book!, Mo Willems, elephant and piggie, breaking the third wall?

Scaredy Squirrel, change of routine

Rocket Writes a Story, very cute! Make words into a story. Will have to get How Rocket Learned to Read

Library Lion rules in the library.

Duck and Goose becoming friends

Library Lion is one of my favorite picture books -- and I love the Elephant & Piggie series and Scaredy Squirrel.

I loved them all! Most had posters in the ALA catalog and I thought they would be a good place to start reading picture books. I am so excited to be a librarian!

I read Twilight and the Edward version Midnight Sun at the same time. It took me a long time to get through them. I think maybe because I like the characters so much better in the later books. Also, this was not a good time for me to be reading about blood and such.

Book Count: 69
First Reads: 41
Rereads: 28
Last year at this point: 52

Jake and Lily was hard for me to read at points, but I am glad I read it. Very cute with good messages.

Book Count: 70 (Wow! Really beat last year, but was reading books with my class)
First Reads: 42
Rereads: 28
Last year at this point: 53

New school year! I am taking over the media center at our school and very excited about it!

Here is the current first post:

Recently Read:

The Bad Beginning, Lemony Snicket (reread) (class)
The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern
Love That Dog, Sharon Creech (reread)
Northanger Abby, Jane Austen (reread) (iPhone)
Hate That Cat, Sharon Creech
Hero, Mike Lupica
Twilight, Stephenie Meyer (reread)
Jake and Lily, Jerry Spinelli

Currently Reading:

Little Women, Louisa May Alcott (reread) (iPhone)
Deadweather and Sunrise, Geoff Rodkey

Youth Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

The Opal Deception, Eoin Colfer
Alcatraz Versus The Evil Librarians, Brandon Sanderson
Divergent, Veronica Roth
Bitterblue, Kristin Cashore
Among Others, Jo Walton

Other Books I'm Thinking About Reading:

Extremely Loud and Suddenly Close, Jonathan Safran Foer
Love in a Cold Climate, Nancy Mitford
The Historian, Elizabeth Kostova
Wives and daughters, Elizabeth Gaskell
Confessions of a Jane Austen addict, Laurie Viera Rigler
The Big Over Easy, Jasper Fforde
The Stupidest Angel, Christopher Moore
Beach Music, Pat Conroy
Dawn of the Dreadfuls, Jane Austen
The Thirteenth Tale, Diane Setterfield
A Game of Thrones, George R.R. Martin
In The Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams

Books I am Thinking About Rereading:

I am the Messenger, Markus Zusak
Water for Elephants, Sara Gruen
The Book of Lost Things, John Connolly
The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet, Reif Larsen
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie

I really liked the pirate/fantasy Deadweather and Sunrise. I can't wait to recommend it to my students.

Book Count: 1
First Reads: 1
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 1

I liked hearing about the shows, doctors, and companions in Chicks Dig Time Lords, but I got really tired of the radio dramas, novelizations, and conventions.

Book Count: 2
First Reads: 2
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 3

I finished The Strange Case of the Origami Yoda a couple days ago. It is a very cute book about friendship and The Force.

Book Count: 3
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 0
Last year at this point: 4

Still love Little Women!

Book Count: 4
First Reads: 3
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 8

The Mark of Athena was great, but cliff hanger at the end. I can't wait for the sequel next year!

Book Count: 5
First Reads: 4
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 9

My students suggested Because of Mr. Terupt and it was really good! I love my job!

Book Count: 6
First Reads: 5
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 9

I really loved The Fire Chronicle, even more that the first book in the series The Emerald Atlas. I think it was more original. Can't wait for book 3!

Book Count: 7
First Reads: 6
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 11

May B. is a combination of The Long Winter and Hatchet written in poems.

Book Count: 8
First Reads: 7
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 11

Liesl & Po was an entertaining and original book, but it didn't blow me away like it has some people. I would still recommend it, though!

Book Count: 9
First Reads: 8
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 11

Mr. Terupt Falls Again was great, but has some things that may not be great for fifth grade. One of our fifth grade students did contact the author Rob Buyea after reading the first book and we Skyped with him yesterday. It was amazing!

Book Count: 10
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 1
Last year at this point: 13

Finished rereading Little Men on the iPad.

Book Count: 11
First Reads: 9
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 14

A. J. Hartley came to our school and it was great. I read his new book Darwen Arkwright and the Insidious Bleck and really liked it.

Book Count: 12
First Reads: 10
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 17

The Quiet Little Woman is a collection of lost Christmas stories from Louisa May Alcott. They were cute.

Book Count: 13
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 2
Last year at this point: 17

A Little House Christmas had stories from her first few books. First time reading this collection, but I am counting it as a reread.

Book Count: 14
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 3
Last year at this point: 17

Glitterfy.com - Christmas Glitter Graphics

I want to wish you a glorious celebration of that time of year when we all try to unite around a desire for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward All. Merry Christmas, compski!

I finished rereading The Best Christmas Pageant Ever on Christmas, as my tradition. Yesterday finished rereading Jo's Boys to round out the Little Women trilogy on my iPad. One long book of moralizing.

Book Count: 16
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 5
Last year at this point: 20

I started rereading Breaking Dawn after seeing the last movie. I took a break part way, then finished up yesterday. It is my favorite Twilight book.

Book Count: 17
First Reads: 11
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 20

Here's to a great new year ahead, Compski!

And to you, too!


I really enjoyed Museum of Thieves, but I haven't heard anything about a sequel.

Book Count: 18
First Reads: 12
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 21

Have you set up a new thread for 2013?

I count my "year" from the start of school and just keep track on this one thread. It is getting long, so I may start a new thread in September.



I didn't know much about One Crazy Summer when I picked it up, but with four medals on the cover, I thought I should read it! It is an excellent historical fiction book about three girls getting to know their mother in the middle of the civil rights movement.

Book Count: 19
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 6
Last year at this point: 22

I have decided for my ebook reading I am going to reread the Harry Potter books. I loved Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone after taking over a year off from the series.

Book Count: 20
First Reads: 13
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 23

Hokey Pokey is about a magical land that just kids live in. It reminded me a lot of the lost boys in the movie "Hook." Very good, but you have to really pay attention to the different aspects of the made up world.

Book Count: 21
First Reads: 14
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 24

I have been reading other picture books, but I thought I would get this bunch down.

Chloe and the Lion, Fun story about artists and illustrators working together.
Extra Yarn, Would be fun to take self portraits and draw a sweater on it.
and then it's spring, So much like spring here: brown, brown, brown, brown, GREEN!

Capture the Flag is a fun Dan Brownish novel for middle readers.

Book Count: 22
First Reads: 15
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 25

More picture books:

Seed by Seed Johnny Appleseed, good deeds
Oh, No!, animals fallin a hole.
Because Amelia Smiled, action and reaction of others, kindness
One Cool Friend, penguin, explorers, politeness

And more:

Bear Has a Story to Tell about getting ready for winter and waking up in the spring; friendship and storytelling
A Home for Bird a frog helps a friend find a home
Abe Lincoln's Dream a girls shows Lincoln's ghost how far we have come.

The Spindlers was a well written middle grade fantasy.

Book Count: 23
First Reads: 16
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 30

Picture books!

hello! Hello! I am going to use this when I introduce the library iPads.
Brave Girl shirtwaist strike
my First Day baby animals, Mother's Day idea
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs fun fractured fairy tale.
Squid and Octopus, Friends for Always short friendship stories

Liar & Spy is a very good realistic fiction about a boy dealing with a lot of different things.

Book Count: 24
First Reads: 17
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 30

Bully great for a cyber bullying unit.
Island: Story of the Galapagos geology and biology
A is for Musk Ox fun alphabet book
Wumbers a modern day CDB
The Monsters' Monster politeness, apostrophe
It's a Tiger repeating story

The Dogs of Winter was a great book about an orphan in Russia who adopts a pack of dogs.

Book Count: 25
First Reads: 18
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 31

Mrs. Harkness and the Panda conservation, exploring, endangered species
Homer dog, home, contentment, friendship
Don't Forget, God Bless Our Troops veteran's or Memorial Day
Mossy turtle, garden, wildlife

Moon Over Manifest was a touching, fun, historical fiction.

Book Count: 26
First Reads: 19
Rereads: 7
Last year at this point: 31

Bird Talk How and why birds communicate
The Chicken Problem Picnic with pie and 100 chickens
Owly & Wormy: Bright LIghts and Starry Nights! Inferring from pictures, speech bubbles with pictures

De-lurking to say hi everyone!

I forgot to post that I read The Runaway King, sequel to The False Prince. I loved it and couldn't put it down!

Today I finished rereading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on my iPad. Loved it as always!

Book Count: 28
First Reads: 20
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 31

Fairest of All was a cute fractured fairy tale.

Book Count: 29
First Reads: 21
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 33

I finished this book a few weeks ago, but things have been crazy! Pickle: The (Formerly) Anonymous Prank Club of Fountain Point Middle School is a fun book about a group of middle school pranksters.

Book Count: 30
First Reads: 22
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 35

I put a hold on The False Prince at my library--hope I enjoy the series as much as you are.

I hope so, Ronin!



Wow! The One and Only Ivan was amazing!

Book Count: 31
First Reads: 23
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 35

Timmy Failure is a very fun and funny book! I can't wait to recommend it to the kids!

Book Count: 32
First Reads: 24
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 35

The Rise of Nine was okay, but mostly fights and battles.

Book Count: 33
First Reads: 25
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 38

Picture books:

Nighttime Ninja - ninja goes after ice cream after going to bed
The Quiet Place - Letters from girl in US to aunt in Mexico. Adapts to new country, makes a quiet place to read books
Baby Bear Sees Blue - Waking up and seeing colors.
The Dark - Lemony Snicket afraid of the dark, finds light bulb.

Lulu and the Brontosaurus very cute and short chapter book about a spoiled girl.

Book Count: 34
First Reads: 26
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 39

I finished Dodger a few days ago and really enjoyed it. It took me awhile to get through it, but such a better character than that whiney, do gooder, lead in Oliver Twist!

Book Count: 35
First Reads: 27
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 41

The Templeton Twins Have an Idea was a cute quick read. The narration reminded me of Lemony Snicket without everything always going wrong.

Book Count: 36
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 8
Last year at this point: 41

I am loving rereading the HP series on my iPad. I finished Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban yesterday.

Book Count: 37
First Reads: 28
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 43

I seem to be on a Charles Dickens inspired kick. First Dodger, not Horton Halfpott. A very funny Victorian mystery with a kitchen boy as the lead character. I hope Tom Angleberger writes a sequel, or at least a spin off with the snooping stable boys.

Book Count: 38
First Reads: 29
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 43

Patricia MacLachlan sure does like to make me cry! This time it was happy tears from the dog book White Fur Flying. Very cute and really hits home with my rescued Scotties!

Book Count: 39
First Reads: 30
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 44

Wednesdays in the Tower is a very fun sequel that kept the feeling of the first but was still very original.

Book Count: 40
First Reads: 31
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 45

John Grisham's latest Theodore Boone novel The Activist was great, although I think the most exciting part was in the middle of the story.

Book Count: 41
First Reads: 32
Rereads: 9
Last year at this point: 46