Ah, it feels so good to be done with ridicuously long teaching credential tests! I now feel like I have more time to read! Ok, so like, fifteen more minutes of free time each day, but still, yay for reading time! Last week was my high school's spring break so I squeezed in a few books. Let's discuss!
Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George - A A really cute fairy-tale redo. I only vaguely remember the actual tale, but I enjoyed this book. I want a polar bear friend!
Changeless by Gail Carriger - A+ Oh my goodness... I am so angry! I cannot believe the cliffhanger this book ended with! I must read the sequel! I cannot wait until September 1st! Still, great sequel by Ms. Carriger. I like the new characters and the more in-depth examinations of Miss Ivy Hisselpenny and Alexia's sister, Felicity. Silly, racy supernatural fun.
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken - A+ I'm so surprised by this first time novelist! (She's 23 and cute! *starts to feel like crap*) Despite the comparisons to Howl's Moving Castle, this novel was original and fun. I totally fell in love with Wayland North; further proof that I have a thing for hot, arrogant, self-serving wizards. Heehee.
Darcy and Anne: It is a truth universally acknowledged the Lady Catherine will never find a husband for Anne by Judith Brockelhurst - A- Fluffy sequel to Pride and Prejudice. Super cute.
Something Rotten (Thursday Next #4) by Jasper Fforde - Currently reading.
Lovely! A good amount of interesting, fun books. What a great reading month! And, in celebration of the TPA completion I have bought 4 more books that I am anxiously awaiting to be delivered from Amazon:
1. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott
2. Enchanted Glass
3. Magic Under Glass
4. Pearl of China (I'm dying to read this one!)
It looks like it will be a lovely reading month indeed.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
100 Best Children's Novels
So which of the Top 100 Children's Novels have you read?
The ones I have read are bold. The ones I own have a star.
100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006) *
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. Walk Two Moons - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003) *
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. The BFG - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908) *
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. Where the Red Fern Grows - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995) *
44. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Blume (1972)
43. Ramona the Pest - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003) *
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000) *
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. James and the Giant Peach - Dahl (1961)
32. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007) *
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003) *
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005) *
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)
19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling (1999) *
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)
10. The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993) *
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)
3. Harry Potter #1 - Rowling (1997) *
2. A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle (1962)
1. Charlotte's Web - White (1952)
I've read almost half. Not bad. In fact, quite a few of my favorites are on here. When I was a child, I loved Maniac Magee, Bridge to Terabithia, and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. (Noticeably, they are all sad. I apparently was a melancholy child.) I also loved the Wayside School and the A Wrinkle in Time serieses. As a young teen, I loved Tuck Everlasting and Anne of Green Gables, and as an adult I have read and loved the Harry Potter series and The Giver. I also love anything from Di Camillo; her writing is magic.
I am however, kind of surprised that Charlotte's Web was the number one book. What do you think? Which ones are your favorites?
The ones I have read are bold. The ones I own have a star.
100. The Egypt Game - Snyder (1967)
99. The Indian in the Cupboard - Banks (1980)
98. Children of Green Knowe - Boston (1954)
97. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane - DiCamillo (2006) *
96. The Witches - Dahl (1983)
95. Pippi Longstocking - Lindgren (1950
94. Swallows and Amazons - Ransome (1930)
93. Caddie Woodlawn - Brink (1935)
92. Ella Enchanted - Levine (1997)
91. Sideways Stories from Wayside School - Sachar (1978)
90. Sarah, Plain and Tall - MacLachlan (1985)
89. Ramona and Her Father - Cleary (1977)
88. The High King - Alexander (1968)
87. The View from Saturday - Konigsburg (1996)
86. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - Rowling (1999)
85. On the Banks of Plum Creek - Wilder (1937)
84. The Little White Horse - Goudge (1946)
83. The Thief - Turner (1997)
82. The Book of Three - Alexander (1964)
81. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon - Lin (2009)
80. The Graveyard Book - Gaiman (2008)
79. All-of-a-Kind-Family - Taylor (1951)
78. Johnny Tremain - Forbes (1943)
77. The City of Ember - DuPrau (2003)
76. Out of the Dust - Hesse (1997)
75. Love That Dog - Creech (2001)
74. The Borrowers - Norton (1953)
73. My Side of the Mountain - George (1959)
72. My Father's Dragon - Gannett (1948)
71. The Bad Beginning - Snicket (1999)
70. Betsy-Tacy - Lovelae (1940)
69. The Mysterious Benedict Society - Stewart ( 2007)
68. Walk Two Moons - Creech (1994)
67. Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher - Coville (1991)
66. Henry Huggins - Cleary (1950)
65. Ballet Shoes - Stratfeild (1936)
64. A Long Way from Chicago - Peck (1998)
63. Gone-Away Lake - Enright (1957)
62. The Secret of the Old Clock - Keene (1959)
61. Stargirl - Spinelli (2000)
60. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle - Avi (1990)
59. Inkheart - Funke (2003) *
58. The Wolves of Willoughby Chase - Aiken (1962)
57. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 - Cleary (1981)
56. Number the Stars - Lowry (1989)
55. The Great Gilly Hopkins - Paterson (1978)
54. The BFG - Dahl (1982)
53. Wind in the Willows - Grahame (1908) *
52. The Invention of Hugo Cabret (2007)
51. The Saturdays - Enright (1941)
50. Island of the Blue Dolphins - O'Dell (1960)
49. Frindle - Clements (1996)
48. The Penderwicks - Birdsall (2005)
47. Bud, Not Buddy - Curtis (1999)
46. Where the Red Fern Grows - Rawls (1961)
45. The Golden Compass - Pullman (1995) *
44. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing - Blume (1972)
43. Ramona the Pest - Cleary (1968)
42. Little House on the Prairie - Wilder (1935)
41. The Witch of Blackbird Pond - Speare (1958)
40. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Baum (1900)
39. When You Reach Me - Stead (2009)
38. HP and the Order of the Phoenix - Rowling (2003) *
37. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry - Taylor (1976)
36. Are You there, God? It's Me, Margaret - Blume (1970)
35. HP and the Goblet of Fire - Rowling (2000) *
34. The Watson's Go to Birmingham - Curtis (1995)
33. James and the Giant Peach - Dahl (1961)
32. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH - O'Brian (1971)
31. Half Magic - Eager (1954)
30. Winnie-the-Pooh - Milne (1926)
29. The Dark Is Rising - Cooper (1973)
28. A Little Princess - Burnett (1905)
27. Alice I and II - Carroll (1865/72)
26. Hatchet - Paulsen (1989)
25. Little Women - Alcott (1868/9)
24. HP and the Deathly Hallows - Rowling (2007) *
23. Little House in the Big Woods - Wilder (1932)
22. The Tale of Despereaux - DiCamillo (2003) *
21. The Lightening Thief - Riordan (2005) *
20. Tuck Everlasting - Babbitt (1975)
19. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Dahl (1964)
18. Matilda - Dahl (1988)
17. Maniac Magee - Spinelli (1990)
16. Harriet the Spy - Fitzhugh (1964)
15. Because of Winn-Dixie - DiCamillo (2000)
14. HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban - Rowling (1999) *
13. Bridge to Terabithia - Paterson (1977)
12. The Hobbit - Tolkien (1938)
11. The Westing Game - Raskin (1978)
10. The Phantom Tollbooth - Juster (1961)
9. Anne of Green Gables - Montgomery (1908)
8. The Secret Garden - Burnett (1911)
7. The Giver -Lowry (1993) *
6. Holes - Sachar (1998)
5. From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler - Koningsburg (1967)
4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - Lewis (1950)
3. Harry Potter #1 - Rowling (1997) *
2. A Wrinkle in Time - L'Engle (1962)
1. Charlotte's Web - White (1952)
I've read almost half. Not bad. In fact, quite a few of my favorites are on here. When I was a child, I loved Maniac Magee, Bridge to Terabithia, and From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler. (Noticeably, they are all sad. I apparently was a melancholy child.) I also loved the Wayside School and the A Wrinkle in Time serieses. As a young teen, I loved Tuck Everlasting and Anne of Green Gables, and as an adult I have read and loved the Harry Potter series and The Giver. I also love anything from Di Camillo; her writing is magic.
I am however, kind of surprised that Charlotte's Web was the number one book. What do you think? Which ones are your favorites?
Sunday, March 28, 2010
First Quarter Update
I hate to say that I'm a very busy woman and have not been able to take the time to write a blog entry about the books I have read, but the sad truth is that I have barely been able to read books in the first place. Balancing teaching, work, school, wedding planning, friends and family has become a daunting task and I am surprised when I find myself with spare time at all. Nevertheless, I am sitting at home with a cold right now, and if you know me well, you know that I have found time to sneak in reading despite my schedule. So, drumroll please, I will now list the books I have read this year... all 12 of them... how sad... (not including the bodice ripping smut I read out of sheer boredom.)
January 2010
Soulless by Gail Carriger - A Bawdy, clever steampunk fun. I can't wait to read Changeless, which comes out on Tuesday. What awaits the new Lady Maccon?
Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon - A very surprising A- I bought this book to tease Ai Ling, but I actually am really looking forward to the sequel!
The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa - A+ Beautiful stuff. It made me cry at work.
Magic Study by Maria Snyder - B YA foolishness. Not as good as the first one.
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld - A Awesome re-imagined WWI. Clankers VS Darwinists, who will win?
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo - B+
Fire Study by Maria Snyder - B- I only read this to finish the series... honestly not that great. It only gets a B because it finished the story I wanted to read.
February 2010
The Mark by Jean Nadol - B Kinda surprised where the end of the book went. Interesting, but not that special.
Going Bovine by Libba Bray - A+ Seriously, I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It was amazingly sad and I honestly loved it. I recommend it to anyone who can stand a bizarre tale of mad cow disease, Schroedinger's cat, a garden gnome who thinks he is a Norse God, a death obsessed dwarf and a punk angel.
March 2010
The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next #1) by Jasper Fforde - A+ A book for bibliophiles. Thank you Michelle, for getting me into this series. I am now obsessed, if you cannot tell by the next two books I have read. I want to be a Special Ops Literatec.
Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next #2) by Jasper Fforde - A Nevermind, I want to work for Jurisfiction!
The Well of Lost Plots (Thursday Next #3) by Jasper Fforde - A I still want to work for Jurisfiction!
So there we have it. Only a measly 12 books read so far this year. I am in the middle of deciding if I want to keep reading the Thursday Next series (there are 2 more) or read something else to break it up... I'm leaning towards breaking it up... And, what makes it harder is that in the next two weeks, four books I have been waiting for come out. Four! I am dying to run and out buy them, but have no time for them. I hate to see unread books on my shelf!!!
Sigh, I will now bid adieu before I give myself another coughing fit.
What is the most interesting book you have read this year, dear reader?
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