Book Blogger hop and Friday Follow

Hey Everyone,
Happy weekend and welcome to my blog!  As always I am excited to meet new bloggers. Please leave a comment and your URL so I can return the visit. Check out my blog new design by Larissa and the new meme Hometown Tracks-Author Spotlight.  Oh and I have a button now, how cool is that!  Feel free to grab it if you like my blog.  Also please enter the Laura Ingalls Wilder giveaway, it is part of my Hometown Track feature.  You need to be a follower to enter. 

Jennifer's question this week is:
Do you listen to music when you read? If so, what are your favorite reading tunes?
No, I cannot read with music on.  My mind tends to focus on the words in the song and then I lose the words on my page.  Music doesn't work for me.

Laura Ingalls Wilder Contest

Laura Ingalls Wilder Contest

 Hometown Track-Author Spotlight

I just returned from Pepin, Wisconsin (Laura's Birthplace) and bought this great guidebook to give away to one lucky follower.  Inside the book, it has an official stamp which says "Birthplace of Laura Ingalls Wilder"  Pepin, Wisconsin 54759.  This book is lovely with beautiful photos of all of Laura's homes and surrounding landscapes.  It is chock full of information and interesting stories.  It is a lovely book for a novice or a collector.

The contest will run until August 31st at midnight. I will choose a winner on September 1st.  This contest is open internationally.

Please leave a comment and share an experience you've had reading any, all or none of her books.  Personally, I grew up watching the TV show and am now rereading the books as I don't remember them at all.  Also leave your E-Mail address and your Blog site if you have one, so I may contact you if you are the winner.  You must be a follower to enter but you do not have to twitter, facebook or advertise this contest unless you choose to.  You are gonna love this book!

Every Last One

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

Anna Quindlen is one of my favorite authors. I have read five books penned by Quindlen and each time I walk away in awe. Her non-fiction books are life changing and her fiction books tend to knock my socks off every time.

This book was a 5 hanky read for me. The family in this book have three children and the mother, Mary Beth narrates the story. She has one son named Max, as do I, and their personalities and problems were so similar, I couldn't help crying just because I was reliving a bit of my own experience. In the book Max is depressed, angry, misunderstood, seeing a psychologist, is a drummer and loved immensely by his mother. This describes my son too and I am crying just writing these words. Parenting is so hard especially when one of your children is suffering.

I would compare Anna Quindlen's fiction writing to Flannery O'Connor. Have you ever read O'Connor? Well, they both pack a punch. Basically, you are reading the book, thinking in your head, well there is a little foreboding going on, this guy is a little strange, this is a story about a regular family, she's so sweet and then WHAM!, a swift punch right to the stomach and you can't breathe. You don't know what hit you or how you can keep reading, but you do keep reading. That is my experience reading Every Last One.

As a person who has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), this book had me crying to the very last page. I believe that several of the characters in the book also suffered from PTSD and that this is their story of survival amidst tragedy. Humans fight hard to survive even though it is more difficult than dying. Surviving trauma is very hard work.

Is this book sad? Yes
Is this book scary? Sort of but not in the way you think
Is this book worth reading? Definitely
Will everyone like this book? Not sure
Will this book make you think? Absolutely
Will I read more Quindlen books? You better believe it!

Where will this book go? I am donating this book to Crazy Book Tours. If you want to read it, sign up, I believe there is still space available.

Check out the author's website at annaquindlen.net

Speak

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Let me introduce you to Melinda. She is entering her first year of high school, she has no friends and has lost her ability to really speak her mind. Over the summer she attended a party and things got out of hand. Melinda called the police and as a result lost her way of life. She is trying to navigate 9th grade amidst the chaos of high school cliques, failing grades, a secret and her inability to SPEAK.

Enter Mr. Freeman, the art teacher. His assignment for the year is to choose a topic out of the hat and focus on that topic for the year. Melinda draws Tree. Now, look at the book cover, it SPEAKS volumes. Next look at the name of the art teacher. Freeman. He is going to be special to Melinda as are the students in this class.

This book won a Printz honor in 2000. In my opinion it took an honor for its memorable characters, realistic portrayal of high school, and the subject matter of the book which sadly happens to too many young women nowadays. The story made me laugh, cry and think about the power of teachers to change lives.

As a inner city high school teacher I see many wounded teens sitting in my class trying to blend into the background. As a parent and a teacher, I want to remind everyone that if your child is failing classes, something is going on and you need to find out what it is. Whether it be social, emotional or mental, failing a class or classes is really a cry for help in my opinion. Have a meeting of the minds with all you students teachers, counselors, social worker etc, to problem solve. Did you know that most schools have social workers and can help your child in many ways? Please help your teachers help your child, work with the teacher and not against the teacher for the benefit of the child.

Books have the uncanny ability to change lives and make you SPEAK your mind!

Where will this book go? I put it on my bookshelf in my classroom when school starts.

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #1

Hometown Track- MN Author Spotlight #1

Drum roll please......
Laura Ingalls Wilder is the MN Author spotlighted for the month of August, 2010.

I chose Laura Ingalls Wilder for several reasons. One, I am reading currently reading Little House in the Big Woods to my daughter, two, I am going to visit two of her houses this month including her birthplace in Pepin, Wisconsin and I am so excited about it (call me nerdy) and three, my name is also Laura so it is only fitting to start my new meme with an author that has the same first name as me.

So watch my blog for more posts, book reviews, a contest and of course pictures of my journey to two of Laura's houses.

Question: Have any of you been to one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's historic homes or sites? Do you have any ideas about what I should give away in the Contest this month?

Athena

Athena. Grey-Eyed Goddess by George O'Connor

O'Connor is an excellent graphic novelist. His books about Greek myths and legends are entertaining, artistic and Athena is no exception. His first book in this series, Zeus, I reviewed earlier, was superb. Athena is the second book in the Olympian series. The third book Hera is due out in September but don't quote me on it and according to his blog Olympians Rule! he is currently writing the fourth book, Hades. I sincerely hope he writes more than four books in the Olympian series.

The three Fates narrate and weave Athena's story throughout the novel. Within the book are five of Athena's adventures that led to her current image as female warrior and goddess. Some you may of heard of like the tale of Arachne or Medusa but other tales are included that you may not have known.

Some of the features of the book that I really enjoy is the Olympian Family Tree at the beginning of each book, I tend to refer to it often. I love, love, love the artwork, it is just beautiful. I really like that the author includes a note at the back of the book, discussion questions and highlights specific gods and goddesses featured in the book as well as tells the reader where to find more books on the subject. You have to see it to believe it. I wish all authors included extras like this in their books.

My family and I are lovers of Greece. I teach a unit on Greek history, have visited Greece and we are all immersed in the Rick Riordan series The Lightning Thief. We are currently reading the second book. The Olympians Rule series is a great companion read to these books. I bought this book for my son's twelfth birthday and he devoured it immediately. Where will this book go? Back on my son's bookshelf.

Northhanger Abbey Readalong week #2

Northhanger Abbey Readalong week #2

Pages read 64-120
Chapters read 10-15

I am really enjoying reading this book and am embracing all things Jane Austen lately. I am definitely on Team Tilney and can't wait till Catherine pushes Mr. Thorpe, (pompous ass) out of the door.

Here is what happened this week. Catherine befriends Eleanor Tilney, Henry's sister, and meets their father who seems to approve of their relationship so far. All three go on a walk and it is most enjoyable for the reader as they talk about novels, history, landscape painting and women. My favorite quote of this chapter (14) is one is which she talks about teaching: "you would allow that to torment and to instruct might sometimes be used as synonimous words." I thought this particularly funny as I am a history teacher and my students would most definitely agree with this sentiment sometimes. Ha, Ha.

Other important news was imparted when Isabelle became engaged to Catherine's brother, James. He ran home to get parental permission to marry Isabelle as she sat at home anxiety ridden that they would not approve. Most interesting, though is when Isabelle's pompous brother is prodding Catherine's feelings and determines most incorrectly, that she is his girlfriend and Catherine has no idea of it. She is so naive and he is so conceited. What a mismatch. Oh my, I feel like I am starting to think in Old English, Austen style.

So they drama continues next week as I read Chapters 16-23. I hope you can join along with me and the many others participating in this readalong. Check out Reading with Tequila's blog post for more updates and her opinion on the particulars in Catherine's life.

What Austen Character Are You?

Take the Quiz here!

As I am currently reading Northhanger Abbey this quiz intrigued me. Thank Goodness, I have read Sense and Sensibility, so I know who Elinor Dashwood is! Try it yourself and let me know what Austen character you resemble.

Book Blogger Hip Hop

Hey Everyone,

Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere (is that really a word?). I have been blogging about 6 months and love it. Please take some time and look around. Check out my new meme Hometown Tracks - Author Spotlight. Let me know what you think.

The question for the week is: Who is your favorite new-to-you author so far this year?

My answer is Ellen Hopkins. Her books, Crank and Glass are amazing and I could read them anywhere. On a plane, on a train, during a fire, at a traffic light, etc. I am really looking forward to the release of the next book in the series called Fallout. All are about a teenage girl addicted to meth.

Hometown Track- A New Meme

Hometown Track is a new meme hosted by me, Booksnob, and I am excited to introduce it to you and hope you will be enticed to participate.

Here is how it works.
1. Grab the button and link it back to Booksnob and this post.

2. Highlight one author from your hometown, state, or country once per month.

3. On the first or second day of the month, announce your author of the month with a list of published books, a link to their web page, and a short biography. You can also talk about why you choose them, highlight their house, historical site, college, bookstore, anything unique about them, etc.

4. Read and review one of the author's books during the month.

5. If you can, try and offer a contest related to the author or their books. You may want to contact the author/publisher to see if they will donate anything to you.

6. Have fun and be creative!



This is the button for Minnesota bloggers, if you use it please link it to my blog and/or this post. If you would like to get your state or country put on this button, please let me know. The cost is minimal.