Monday, March 25, 2013

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? 03/25/13

Visit Kellee and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts
for more about the It's Monday! What Are You
Reading? Meme
 
 
This was supposed to be my week of finishing books I have been reading for too long.  That didn't happen the way I envisioned but I'm making progress. 
 
 

The Diviners (The Diviners,
 

I did finish The Diviners on audio.  I rarely listen to audiobooks and, in fact, haven't listened to one in a couple of years, but I was really impressed by this reading.  The narrator, January Lavoy, had a great story to work with.  A serial killer, the supernatural, shocking individual tragedies and secrets . . .all in NYC in the 1920's.   And Lavoy really made it all come to life with her varied and authentic-sounding voices.  She even did a bit of singing.  I didn't want to stop listening.
 
 
 
 
 

So, The Diviners was the only thing that I had started but not really made progress with that I actually finished this week.  I read more of Flight Behavior, Switch and Ready Player One, but haven't finished them yet.
 
 
A book like See You at Harry'sI did read See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles.  All I knew about it was that several people said it was a tear-jerker.  I knew nothing else about it (didn't read the back nor any reviews), but I was just waiting for something tragic to happen and as I read I (incorrectly) predicted several possible tragedies that might cause tears to flow.  Then when I got to the traumatic event, I didn't cry at all.  I assumed it was because I had already anticipated several horrible possibilites.  It wasn't long after the event, though, that the tissue came out.  More than one.  Actually, enough to keep my eyes clear enough to read through the end of the book.  It's a wonderful story, but definitely heartbreaking.
 
 
 


As always, I also read my picture books.  These weren't my favorite of the picture books I've read since January, but still they were good and worth the time.  My two favorite this week were Owl Moon and Rocks in His Head
 
 
PronounsRocks for Kids  Owl Moon  Blue Chameleon is lonely.  The First Pup: The Real Story
 
Dream Something Big: The Story  spells emily gravett  And If the Moon Could Talk
 
 
So, this week I will read some YA book, try to finish Ready Player One, and read a picture book a day.
 
Thanks for reading!  Have a great week.  
 
 
 
 
 


9 comments:

  1. Loved the Jo Knowles book, a tear-jerker for sure! Desperately seeking the Diviners

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    1. Well, I definitely recommend the audio, although I'm sure the book is great too. My library has audio books that I can checkout online. I love it!

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  2. Those moon-themed picture books look gorgeous. I keep telling myself to make a weekly library stop so that I can do a picture book a day too. Maybe by summer, I'll have figured out a routine. In the meantime, I'm stock piling your favorite titles.

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    1. I love it! I know you would too because I'm amazed by the artwork every week. One of the great things about living on base is that the library is so close. It's really easy for me to stop by during lunch, after school, on the weekends. (I only go once a week though.) And our library is really fantastic.

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  3. Hi there Lee, Emily Gravett is an absolute favorite. I did a four-in-one special of her picture books sometime in 2010 - Spells, Meerkat Mail, Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears and Wolves. She's just an amazing artist. Spells is one of my absolute favorites. I have heard a lot about Jo Knowles' book, perhaps I'd pick it up before the year ends - same with Libba Bray's novels. Dream Something Big looks like something I'd enjoy - I'd check that one out too. :)

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    1. Myra, I'm starting to get more into picking up a few picture books by the same author so I can notice more about his/her style. I think you'll like Dream Something Big. It's a very different story - one I hadn't heard of before, maybe because I'm from the east coast.

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  4. Oh man, The Diviners is one of my favorite reads in a long time!! I bet the audio was fantastic, and probably a little scary, and a heck of a lot lighter! On a similar, but also very different note, I adored The Raven Boys.

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  5. Nicole, I loved The Raven Boys too! I have to say, I haven't done so well lately with series. Even when I love the first, I just have little interest in reading three or four. But I can wait for more Raven Boys! In fact, your comment made me look at the next one comes in Sept. :)

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  6. I love great audiobooks! I agree that when the author's writing and story are excellent, the narrator can really shine. I haven't read The Diviners yet but I have it on my TBR and am excited to get to it. I sooooooooooo loved See You At Harry's though! Jo Knowles is a gem. I was shocked by the big tragedy and like you cried so much after. I think that initial shock was hard to take in but when I read about everything afterwards, that's what really got to me. I seriously love that book. Thanks for sharing all of your reading!

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