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Thursday, May 29, 2014

Colin Fischer by Miller & Stentz

Currently on p. 16, chapter 2

Please do not think that my slow reading is in anyway a reflection on this book. It has great potential. It is just a very busy time of the year. Only 8 1/2 more days of school left!!!

I know that I already discussed whether or not to read the introduction. Well on the same thread of thought, DO read the footnotes. They are really part of the story not just definitions.

So far, I like Colin.

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz

Currently on p. 5, chapter 2

I am unsure about whether or not to recommend that you read the introduction. After I read it, I thought, 'this could be a really good book'. My first impression was that reading the introduction was helpful. I know that a lot of people skip the introduction. I am NOT sure if I am recommending that you read it or not. Did the intro give too much away? The fact that I have already read it and now cannot unread it puts me out of the discussion at this point. I am the kind of person who reads not only the introduction but the back of the book and the side flaps of the jacket cover. Sometimes I even read the acknowledgments before starting the book.  I will try to remember to chime back in on this topic when I finish the book. So read it or not, it is up to you.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Colin Fischer by Ashley Edward Miller & Zack Stentz

Interest Level: Young Adult
Reading Level: 870L/5.8 - 9.1 grade                                                
 

Monday, May 26, 2014

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Finished the book.

I thought this book was confusing. SPOILER ALERT! I am still not sure if the muses' tales are read by the characters or someone else or anyone else. Una being the daughter of the Enemy and the Red Enchantress was a surprise. I thought she was going to be the king's daughter. That was an interesting twist. The Enemy returning reminded me of Voldemort's return. The plot did wrap up with the Resistance pledging to fight the Enemy together. However, the words "to be continued" were the last words of the book. Although, the book got a lot better when Una and Indy went into the exam together, I will not be reading the next book. If there are any fans of this book out there reading this, please comment.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently on p. 209, chapter 17

I am HALFWAY through the book. I have decided that I will try to write a synopsis of the plot. I am unsure if I can because I am having a hard time focusing on the story. So, SPOILER ALERT! Una gets 'written in' to the town/realm of Story. She meets Peter. They discover that there is something amiss in Story. They join together to right the wrongs and clear up Story's history.

Sound good? It's not.

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently on p. 196, chapter 15

Five or six more pages and I am half way through this book. My goal is to have this book done by the end of the three day weekend. SPOILER ALERT! I am at the point where Una and Peter are at the bank and have just discovered that books that Peter's parents have locked up in the safety deposit box are blank. I am guessing that there is something that has messed up history thus resulting in the empty pages.

Yawn! I can't wait to move on to something else.

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently on pg.178, chapter 14

I have decided that since this book is an ORCA nominee that I need to put myself in a better frame of mind, just put my head down and read. But I do need to read more than 10 pages a day or it will take me a month to finish the book. It has been said that there are only a certain number of plots in all of literature. Well, that may be true but it is hard not to draw parallels between this book and others. For example, SPOILER ALERT! Una's roommate, Snow, goes 'home' on the weekend to her cousin's, the Wortons. She sleeps in the attic. This reminded me of Harry Potter, the Dursleys, and his room under the stairs. That same weekend Una goes home with Peter to his house, Bramble Cottage. Una is in awe of Peter's home and cannot stop wondering what it would have been like to grow up in place like Bramble Cottage. Does this bring another set of characters to mind? Upon arriving at The Burrow, Ron Weasley says, "It's not much but it's home." To which Harry response, "I think it's brilliant." Also Peter's parents hold a secret meeting in the middle of the night. The Order of the Phoenix?

Monday, May 19, 2014

Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently on page 116, chapter 10

What did my mother say? If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all..............

Friday, May 16, 2014 Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently p. 90, chapter 8

It feels funny to write the words 'spoiler alert'. I can't imagine anyone reading this blog would even pick this book up. That is unless their tastes are greatly different than mine. They may use this blog as a mirror. Whatever, I say they do the opposite. Regardless, SPOILER ALERT!! The information regarding Una's parents brings me hope. I foresee Una's parents to be from Story and that is why she was abandoned. But then the question would be, why abandoned her in our realm. For her own safety? This, although predictable, could add a nice twist to the story; Una discovering this fact and then searching for them.

Thursday, May 15, 2014 Storybound by Marissa Burt

Currently on p. 80, chapter 7
Interest Level: 3-6th grade
Reading Level: 670L/4.7 - 6th grade

I started this book before the last book in The Selection series (The One) came out. I got to page 51 and then set it aside to read The One. In all honesty if this book wasn't an ORCA 2015 book nominee, I wouldn't pick it back up. At this point, this book seems to be a rip-off of Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. In my opinion, the fairy tale genre is a hard one to excel in. There are fairy tale base novels that I like; The Sisters Grimm, A Tale Dark and Grimm, The Goose Girl, and more. And I love the television shows Once Upon a Time and Grimm. So, I will continue to read Storybound and work toward getting the two questions I need for the ORCA quiz (coming in September to the LRMS media website). In the meantime, the nights of reading late into the wee hours of the morning (with The One) are over. I am back to falling to sleep while reading.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 (later in the day) The One by Kiera Cass

Finished the book

I LOVED THIS BOOK! And I loved the ending. I liked all the twists and turns up to the very end. I am SO sad that the series is done. SPOILER ALERT!! What!?! The southern rebels shot Celeste. I went from hating Celeste in book 1 to sort of liking her in this book. Bummer. I liked the scene with America and Maxon under the table during the battle in chapter 30. Maxon's speech about how his heart was America's was so good. As I read the acknowledgements, I did as instructed and put my hand on the page and with a bit of sadness I received my high-five.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014 The One by Kiera Cass

Currently on p.288, chapter 30

I have only 21 pages left!!!! I know I will finish the book today. :( SPOILER ALERT!! Oh my!!! Seriously! Kriss, a rebel? Even when August said that the rebels had another girl besides America that they wanted Maxon to choose, I didn't have any idea which one it was. I also didn't expect that she was a plant. AND How I wish America would have told Maxon about Aspen sooner.

Tuesday, May 13, 2014 The One by Kiera Cass

Currently on p. 196, chapter 21

Okay, I read 3 chapters last night. There are 32 chapters plus the epilogue. If I keep up this pass, I will be done with the book in four days. Yes, I am still obsessing about this. But a good thing is that I will be able to loan the book to Megan and that will make her happy. So, that is a good thing. SEMI-SPOILER ALERT! - I liked what America did at the Convicting Ceremony. I think that it is important for her character to keep doing these types of things. We, the readers, should be worried whether or not she will push the king too far and be kicked out of the Elite.

Monday, May 12, 2014 The One by Kiera Cass

Currently on p. 156, chapter 18
Interest Level: Young Adult
Reading Level: 670L/4.7- 6th grade


I am enjoying the book. I thought it was a bit slow starting out. I am at that point now (almost halfway through the book) that I am wanting to read it all the time because I want to find out what happens. But I don’t want to read the book because I know it is that last book in the series and I don’t want it to end. I am pleased with America’s choice between Maxon and Aspen. I also like the new characters, Georgia and August.