Preparing for the Book Fair

The job I've had in the PTA for the past six years or so has been to head up the book fair. We usually do a Scholastic book fair and have a great time promoting it, doing book talks for the kids, and running it for two different weeks in during the year.

So, it's coming up again in October and we've been given the list of books that Scholastic will be pushing this time around. Today, I went to track down a few of them at the library. I wasn't very successful, but I did come home with these books:

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Things Hoped For by Andrew Clements

The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Han

Code Orange by Caroline B. Cooney

Ones I put on hold:

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Igraine the Brave by Cornelia FUnke

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell

Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan

Rules by Cynthia Lord

The Homework Machine by Dan Cutman

Diary of a Whimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Flush by Carl Hiaasen

And now I just realized that Things Hoped For is a sequel so I need to go back for:

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

So, that should keep me busy for the next little bit!

It's kind of like my own little intense month-long book challenge... to read as many new-ish YA novels advertised by Sholastic Book Fairs as I can!

Anyone read any of these and have anything to say about them?

Booking Through Thursday: Goldilocks

Booking Through Thursday

Okay, so the other day, a friend was commenting on my monthly reading list and asked when I found the time to read. In the ensuing discussion, she described herself as a “goldilocks” when it comes to reading–she needs to have everything juuuuuust right to be able to focus. This caught my attention because, first, I thought that was a charming way of describing the condition, but, two, while we’ve talked about our reading habits, this is an interesting wrinkle. I’d never really thought about it that way.

So, this is my question to you–are you a Goldilocks kind of reader?
Do you need the light just right, the background noise just so loud but not too loud, the chair just right, the distractions at a minimum?

Or can you open a book at any time and dip right in, whether it’s for twenty seconds, while waiting for the kettle to boil, or indefinitely, like while waiting interminably at the hospital–as long as the book is open in front of your nose, you’re happy to read?


If everything had to be just right, I'd get no reading done at all! So, no, I'm for sure not a Goldilocks reader and can read pretty much anywhere, anytime. The only time I CAN'T read, is if my mind is worried or stressed and can't concentrate. For instance, I have a hard time reading at the doctors office, because I'm usually too nervous... same with reading on a plane, it's hard for me to concentrate because I'm too nervous about flying, though I still do read there, I just have to have an "easy" book!

August Recap

Here's what I read this August:

For my vampire fix:

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason: a book and author I’ve been hearing a lot about from all you bloggers. This is the kind of vampire book I was looking for! Hopefully I can find the sequel one of these days!

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer: Enough already said on this book and author! Two thumbs up!

For my Markus Zusak obsession: As I mentioned the other day, after reading The Book Thief and I Am The Messenger, I decided I needed more from this author. He’s amazing.

Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak: The first book about Cameron Wolfe and his brother. In this one they decide to join a fighting ring to earn money. Ruben does great, but Cameron, not so great. However, he learns a lot about how he feels about his brother.

Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak: More on Cameron and Ruben. Ruben is popular and gets all the girls, while Cameron just dreams away. Eventually, he learns it’s not really about "getting" the girl as in acquiring... but "getting" as in understanding.
Two more to go.... I think. Then it’s just waiting for him to write more!

For Challenges and Groups

The Stand by Stephen King, read for both the TBR Challenge and the Something About Me Challenge.

Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors: We read this over at the Historical Fiction group. I don’t think I ever took time to review it here, but add this to the list of another book I loved! This one about the building of the Taj Mahal in India, complete with a beautiful love story, and intense sibling rivalry. I’ve never really had the desire to visit India, but now....I do so I can see this building.

Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party by Ginnie Siena Bivona read for the "Something About Me" Challlenge.

Booking Through Thursday: Statistics

Booking Through Thursday

There was a widely bruited-about statistic reported last week, stating that 1 in 4 Americans did not read a single book last year. Clearly, we don’t fall into that category, but . . . how many of our friends do? Do you have friends/family who read as much as you do? Or are you the only person you know who has a serious reading habit?


When I saw this story in the paper, my mouth fell open, I stopped everything I was doing, and read the whole article. I guess I realized that there's lots of people who aren't "readers", but to not have read any book at all? It really blows me away.

To answer the question, I have lots of friends and family who read, but not too many who get into it quite as much as I do. They think I'm crazy when they hear me talking about joining this or that challenge, reading this blog or that blog, participating in various online AND face-to-face groups, having more than one book going at time, keeping track of what I read in a reading log .... stuff like that. And to have my very own blog about reading and books.... whoa! Now THAT'S really crazy!

But it's fun to be known as the crazy reader. So I've decided to embrace it and not be so shy about it like I used to be.

As for those people in my life who don't read.... hmmm.... I don't get them. Those people make me feel like I must not have anything else to do in my life, and then I start to get mad, so usually it's better to stay away from the reading/book topic with them!

But, there's not very many of those types, so for the most part.... it's all good. :)

Catching Up on Markus Zusak books

Book: Getting the Girl by Markus Zusak
Rating: A-


Book: Fighting Ruben Wolfe by Markus Zusak
Rating: A


After reading The Book Thief, and The Messenger, I decided I needed to read all of this author's books. These two are sort of a series, along with Underdog.... I think. I'm still looking for Underdog.

They are about Cameron Wolfe and his brother, Ruben, and the interesting, but fantastic relationship that they have. These books are gritty and rough, but with a ton of heart and lots of amazing lessons to learn. I LOVE this Cameron character and am cheering for him with all I've got!

I also LOVE Markus Zusak and his writing style. So simple, yet powerful. Very hard to describe. But gritty, like I said. I will for sure be finding the rest of what he's written so far, and keeping my eye on whatever he sends our way in the future.

Here's a link to an interview he gave with Charlie Gibson about The Book Thief. See what you think: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=1737821

Pulitzers I've Read So Far

Yes, I'm doing the Pulitzer Project... since I'd be doing it anyway, challenge or no challenge.

Here's what I posted over there as my progress so far:

1921 The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton: Loved it!

1922 Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington: Liked it pretty good.

1932 The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck: One of my all favorite books!

1937 Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell: Loved it. Read it YEARS ago.

1940 The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck: Another all time favorite book!

1961 To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Wow, this one needs a re-read big time!

1975 The Killer Angels Michael Shaara: Liked it a lot.

1986 Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry: Another liked it a lot book.

1988 Beloved by Toni Morrison: Hmmm... interesting book.

1992 A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley: Did NOT like it.

1999 The Hours by Michael Cunningham: This one is okay... a little weird.

2002 The Empire Falls by Richard Russo: Liked parts, didn’t like other parts.

2005 Gilead by Marianne Robinson: Liked it a lot.

In the line up to read this next year:

1972 Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner (currently reading)

1994 The Shipping News by Annie Proulx

2001 The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon

Just Checking In

It's a crazy week. I'm not reading much and not blogging much. Hopefully I'll be back to "normal" next week!