Macky's Baptism

We want to thank everyone that helped to make Macky's day special.  He had a wonderful day!!  

Book Review of A Great and Terrible Beauty

A Great and Terrible Beauty By Libba Bray Delacorte Press, c2003. $9.99

Don't read it.

The Mollies

This is a music video from the daughter of one of my friends in Utah.  I just stumbled across it today in the blogosphere.  They call themselves "The Mollies" and they rock!  They have a CD available if you would like to enjoy more Indie Folk Rock.  Go to CD Baby to buy it.

Book Review of Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson 308 pages. Scholastic Press, c2007. $11.55

 I picked up this book after reading a review from Esme Raji Codell (Check out her blog review here at PlanetEsme).  She was so enthusiastic, I had to try it!
Alcatraz narrates this story.  He tells us of his hard life as a foster child.  He has an uncanny ability to break things.  On his thirteenth birthday, he receives a bag of sand from his Dad for his birthday.  This sends him on a most unusual adventure, where he learns about his family and the true nature of librarians.
There were a couple of passages that I really enjoyed.  Alcatraz takes the time to describe what a real library looks like (not the ones we are used to).   He says,

"Dust settles on the books like a gray perversion of rain forest moss, giving the air a certain moldy, unwelcome scent faintly reminiscent of a baledragon's lair.  At each corner, you expect to turn and see the withered, skeletal remains of some poor researcher who got lost in the stacks and never found his way out."  (p. 114)    

 
My absolute favorite part was Alcactraz's rant on people who read the last page of a story first (I really hate that!!  Don't do it!!).  He says,

"You could even scan to the end and read the last page.  Know that by doing so, however, you would violate every holy and honorable story-telling principle known to man, thereby throwing the universe into chaos and causing grief to untold millions." (p. 236)    

It was a fun little book.  I think a third grade boy would just love it.  It took me a while to get through.  It just wasn't a page turner for me.  But it was funny and quirky - time well spent.

Valentine's Party

My kids and I went to a friend's home to make yummy Valentine's cookies and party!!  Ryan and Maddie enjoyed putting as many pieces of candy onto the sugar cookie as possible.  Needless to say, we didn't eat their cookies.

Raspberries!

This Saturday the kids an I planted raspberries!  We are so excited.  All three kids helped me pull weeds.  Unfortunately, that was the longest part.  Then we dug the holes and put in our little bare root raspberry starts.  We mixed in some special stuff to help the raspberries grow nice roots.  We are looking forward to picking them in July.  Our house feels more like home now.

Book Review of The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl By Phillippa Gregory Simon & Schuster, c2001. $10.08

I had to read this book because of my ignorance.  I was at a book club and realized that I was the only one who couldn't name the six wives of Henry VIII.  I knew that one of his wives had been beheaded and that was about it.  My friend recommended that I read this one to catch up on some history.
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre, so I was very excited to get started.  Some parts I flew through and others were a bit tedious.  It covers the time from Henry VIII taking up with Mary Boleyn through to the death of Anne Boleyn, her sister.  You get to know all of the people in this crazy circle they called the Court.  It was just amazing to have all of the pieces put together in such a way that it all made sense.  It is such an amazing and exciting story.  After I finished I was motivated to find out more about the family and what happened to them all.  I spent some time on Wikipedia and now I'm ready for my next book club discussion on royalty!
I recommend reading this book and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.  This story may be the rare exception where the movie is better than the book.  We shall see...

The Rocket Launch

My brother Steve recorded this video.  Our friend recorded it too and we're hoping to eventually post it here too.  Enjoy! If you're wondering who's crying it the background, it's Ryan.  He hates the rocket.

The Twilight Series

The Twilight Series By Stephenie Meyer Little, Brown Children's Books, c2005, 2006, 2007. $13.99 each

I have been putting off the review of these books for quite some time.  Why?  I just cannot do them justice!  These books are good.  All I can tell you is: read them.  Have your teenagers read them.  Talk about the books together.  They will absolutely take over your life until you have finished.  Then you will join me in anxiously awaiting the fourth installment, due out August 2nd.
   
Stephenie Meyer is one of my heroes.  She is just dang awesome.  How she pulls it all off, I probably will never know, but I'm so glad that she does!  It bothers me that she is so often tied with Harry Potter.  The stories are nothing alike.  Albeit, they both suck you in and are extremely entertaining.  Other than that, you just can't compare them.  Read them both!!  There's time.  For more information on the books and Meyer herself, check out my blogroll and click on her link.

Book Review of Ida B.

Ida B. By Katherine Hannigan, Read by Lili Taylor 3 CDs, 5 hours. Listening Library, c2004. $18.00

Ida B. Applewood is one of my favorite characters.  She is an imaginative fourth-grader with more plans than she can possibly accomplish.  Unfortunately she is hit with some tough circumstances and this book shows how she deals with this from her perspective.  She makes plans "to have fun, avoid disaster, and possibly save the world."
 
I couldn't imagine a better reader than Lili Taylor.  My son said, "Boy, she really sounds like a little kid." If you haven't ever listened to a book in the car, this is a good one to start with.  It's not too long and it appeals to all ages.  While my kids occasionally groan at the site of another book on CD hitting the car, their minds are being filled with great stories rather than the top music of today and yesterday.

Book Review of Zen Ties

Zen Ties By Jon J. Muth 36 pages. Scholastic Press, c2008. $12.59

This little picture book has a wonderful message.  I read it to my kiddies and they loved the pictures and the imaginative characters.  They loved the haiku and fluidity of the language.  I loved the solid moral message.  I highly recommend this one.  My two year old loved it, my five year old loved it, and I even saw my almost eight year old sneaking a quick look!

Book Review of An Inconvenient Book

An Inconvenient Book By Glenn Beck 295 pages. Simon & Schuster, Inc., c2007. $26.00

I am a Glenn Beck fan.  I love to listen to talk radio and his show is one of my favorites.  I occasionally watch his TV program on CNN, but as I try to avoid TV, I don't catch it very often.  So, when he came out with this book - especially since he was so obviously making fun of Al Gore - I had to read it.  I thought I would love it...
The book is just full of Glenn's sense of humor.  It's very sarcastic.  At first, I thought it was very funny and witty, but it got old.   Many of the chapters are filled with interesting facts, but a few are just odd.  I'm not quite sure what he was thinking.  So I have to be honest and say that I skipped entire sections.  I didn't quite get the flow of the book either.  Each chapter gave his opinion on one topic or another, but they weren't linked together.  There really wasn't a flow to the book and it ended quite abruptly.
 With all that said, I still love Glenn Beck.  I will probably not read another book of his - nor do I recommend this one.  I do understand that this may be more appealing to men.  I have a friend who is  die hard Glenn Beck fan and thought the book was fantastic.  I, however, wish I had spent my time reading something else.

Book Review of Artemis Fowl

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer Audiobook on 5 CDs, read by Nathaniel Parker Listening Library, c2004 $18.48

Artemis Fowl, Jr., is a wealthy evil genius who is bent on getting his hands on fairy gold.  He is the only one alive with the ability to get it - oh and he's 12 years old.
Eoin Colfer describes his book as "Die Hard with fairies."  I heartily agree.  My husband and my son loved all the action and cool gadgets in this story.  My daughter and I loved the strength and fire in Holly, the central fairy.  I recommend this book and would encourage you to listen to it on audiobook if possible.  Nathaniel Parker does an amazing job with voices and dialects.  He was really fun to listen to.

Book Review of The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret By Brian Selznick 526 pages. Scholastic Press, c2007. $12.64

I just finished reading the most wonderful book.  This book recently won the 2008 Caldecott Medal.  It is very unusual and fun.  I borrowed it from the library, but I will be buying it for my personal collection. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is sure to be a classic.  It is a great mix of illustrations and story.  In order to experience this book, you should check out Brian Selznick's Site.  Have fun!

Happy First Birthday Eliza!

Our beautiful niece Eliza celebrated her first birthday on Monday.  She is so wonderful!  It seems like we were waiting and waiting for her to come just yesterday, and now she's been with us for a year.  I love to see babies eating cake.  

The Reading Mother

I came across an old poem today that I really like.  I hope that you guys like it too.

The Reading Mother

Strickland Gillilan (1869-1954)

I had a mother who read to me


Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea.

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth;

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath.

I had a Mother who read me plays


Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,


Which every boy has a right to know.


I had a Mother who read me tales


Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness lent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-

Stories that stir with an upward touch.

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be --


I had a Mother who read to me.
 

 

Book Review of The Pillars of the Earth

The Pillars of the Earth By Ken Follett 973 pages. New American Library, 2007. $14.19

I just finished reading The Pillars of the Earth.  I highly recommend it.  I had planned on reading it over Christmas break and had gotten a copy from the library.  I then discovered to my horror, that Oprah had recommended it.  Somehow, that just taints a book for me.  I tend to avoid Oprah books.  Anyway, my husband got me my own copy for Christmas, not realizing that I had started to read it.  It took me longer to read it than I thought, so I was glad to have my own copy for that reason.
 I am now very happy to have my own copy for another reason.  I know that I will probably read it again and I will be loaning it out.  It is absolutely fantastic.  Now, if you're of the conservative crowd, I must warn you that it is NOT "G" rated.  There are very graphic scenes filled with sex and violence.  This, however, is not like The Kite Runner where you wish you could erase from your mind what you just read.  (As a side note, just don't read The Kite Runner.  Please.)
 I have heard that the sequel to this book is as good as this one, so I will be reading that soon.  Don't let the length of this book intimidate you.  It's worth the effort!!  If you are interested in all sorts of information on this book, you can go to Oprah.com.  Also, Ken Follett will be on Oprah on January 30th.  I'll be watching.