A Reading Diary

I never expected this to become a diary of what I have been reading this summer, but it needs to be something I guess, so here it is . . .



I have been working on reading books off of the NC Battle of the Books list - a competition for middle school students who read specific books and then go through quiz bowl like competitions answering questions about the books. The NC School Library Media Association sponsors this competition, and it gets kids reading.



I have read several this summer and am getting ready to head over to my library to pick up two or three for a trip Brent and I leave on tomorrow. The last one I read was The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke (pronounced foon-kay). It was okay. I much prefer her Inkspell series - of which there are currently two with a third in the works.

I also read The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. That was an excellent book - a really quick read - and there are more in the series -

Have to admit - I am a sucker for a series -

First Among Sequels

If you have never heard of Thursday Next or her books, you really should try out the first one, The Eyre Affair. You really have to love reading and literature to appreciate some of the finer points of these books, but if you are just interested in something light and goofy, you can get that in these books as well.

I just finished First Among Sequels, and I loved it, because I love the idea of being able to jump between books and into plots and meeting characters and stuff like that. The whole premise is wonderful. And then there are gun fights, time travel, supernaturals, and loads more.

What is really great is that Jasper Fforde, the author, has set himself up, and Thursday as well, to be very busy for awhile with other sequels. And as silly as they get I don't think I will ever tire of them.

So, today's suggestion for something to read as the summer picks up speed to burn us up with a hot August - read Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair.

And so it ends . . .

I finished the last Harry Potter in less than 24 hours. I couldn't resist the urge to drive to Wal-Mart for a discount copy at 12:01. So there I was shopping with all of the other HP fans, and then drove home to stay up two more hours reading the book before being reminded by my husband that we were supposed to be getting up early on Saturday to drive to the in-laws (who I would really like to thank for -if not understanding - accepting that I had to finish that book before any spoiler got to me).

Loved it. Really wished there could have been more to the Dumbledore family story-line, but it is Harry's book.

My husband kids me, especially when I am talking with friends about the book, that Harry isn't a real person, and I know he isn't, but still, I swear I am going to miss him, and Hermoine, and Ron, and all the rest of those characters.

I did appreciate the epilogue, but wish we could have learned more about what they are all doing as adults. I distinctly remember Rowling saying she would never write about Harry working in an office or somewhere, and I can totally respect that, but I would LOVE to know what Ron and Hermoine ended up doing. At least we did learn that Neville got a job at Hogwart's - too cool.

So now, I am moving on to another series - The Thursday Next books. Very interesting group of books, especially if you love literature.

So, let me go try to read some of her exploits -