Recent Book Activity

Completed Reading for 2012



31. The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh 12 May 2012 - A very powerful piece of "chick lit." It has a happy ending, but the story that gets us there makes it worth reading. This is a book I can recommend without reservations.
30. Graveminder by Melissa Marr 9 May 2012 - I love the worlds that Marr creates. Now I want to read the Wicked Lovely series.
29. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 2 May 2012 - It has been years since I read this novel. It is not a great novel, but there is much to appreciate when considering it was published in 1932.
28. Getting Into the Vortex: The Teachings of Abraham by Esther & Jerry Hicks 30 April 2012 - This book along with the CD of meditations is excellent.
27. Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen 29 April 2012 - Read this book because it sounded interesting, and I thought it had been recommended by a friend. This was not the novel I was looking for (see # 31) but enjoyed reading it. True "chick lit" - loved the use of magic and knowledge of flowers but the totally happy ending does not work for me.
26. Lord of the Flies by William Golding 23 April 2012 - This is a good novel; one that I had not read in years. Wish I had been able to teach it.
25. Charlie No Face by David B. Seaburn 15 April 2012 - Interesting coming of age story about an 11 year old boy in 1959. Good for 8th possibly 7th graders.
24. The Tempest by William Shakespeare 10 April 2012 - I love this play; it is a delight to read and view.
23. The Last of the Crazy People by Timothy Findley 8 April 2012 - Third time for this one and about 2 years since the last reading. It is amazing how many "new" things I noticed. Parts that still make me cry.
22. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson 5 April 2012 - One of those horror stories that is so good you don't want it to end. I "saved" the last two chapters for about 7 hours.
21. The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt 30 March 2012 - I do not usually like Westerns, but this dark comedy was intelligent, gritty, disturbing, poignant, and funny. A retelling of Don Quixote? Another Canadian author to watch for...I have yet to be disappointed by any novel published by Anansi.
20. Radical Prayer - Love in Action by Matthew Fox 29 March 2012 - Thoughtful book on spirituality by a former Domincian priest. He has a new book out on how the pope is destroying the Catholic Church. I want to read that.
19. Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse 29 March 2012 - Hesse’s ability to completely pull me into a world through her beautiful free verse never ceases to amaze me. I did not know that Aleut people were taken from their homes to live in internment camps like the Japanese Americans. One quarter of them died during the less than 3 years they were held captive. Some of them were not able to return to their islands because they had been destroyed. I wish I could teach a class on U.S. history and literature using the works of Karen Hesse as the starting point. Exquisitely written.
18. Tell Me a Riddle by Tillie Olsen 23 March 2012 - I read the first story in this collection, "I Stand Here Ironing," years ago for a college course. Not sure when I picked up this collection. Very dark sad stories.
17. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 23 March 2012 - Enjoyed reading this again but wish the book my students used wasn't abridged OR was labeled abridged on the cover.
16. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus 23 March 2012 - This powerful YA novel told in verse is the story of Liz and Kate – BFF – until Liz’s brother is accused of raping Kate. EXCELLENT.
15. The Autobiography of My Mother by Jamaica Kincaid 17 March 2012 - I love the writing of Kincaid for reasons that are difficult for me to understand; the story itself is not important but the masterfully poetic language is. I feel I understand the soul of Xuela.
14. Shakespeare's Insults for Teachers by Wayne F. Hill and Cynthia J. Ottchen 14 March 2012 - Cute but not great. Some quotations I did not recognize, and many I wish I could use. However, my favorite quote was by the authors and in the Introduction, "Once lost, ignorance - like virginity - can never be recovered."
13. Life of Pi by Yann Martel 10 March 2012 - A novel about a 16 year old boy surviving for 227 days in a lifeboat on the Pacific Ocean with a 450-pound Bengal Tiger and it is believable! Great reading on many levels - a boy's conflict within himself and nature - spirituality. Definite 10 out of 10.
12. The Arrival by Shaun Tan 29 February 2012 - Beautifully illustrated graphic novel - wordless, but what a story! Captures how it feels to be in a strange country with no knowledge of the language.
11. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare 19 February 2012 - What a delight to read this play all in one sitting with no pressure. I truly feel younger when reading Shakespeare.
10. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens 18 February 2012 - So glad I finally read this classic. I do love Dickens, and it is not often that I love a novel where a knitter dies. :-)
9. The Age of Consent by Geoffrey Wolff 18 February 2012 - One of the best novels I've read in awhile. The high quality of writing stuck me in the first chapter. The ending blew me away. A definite 10 out of 10; I'll be looking for more novels by Geoffrey Wolff.
8. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan 11 February 2012 - Enjoyed this contemporary/futuristic retelling of Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter. The frightening thing is...this concept is more believeable than Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. This novel was difficult to put down.
7. The Ha-Ha by Dave King 29 January 2012 - An unexpected happy ending, but believably happy. Howard is an excellent protagonist and narrator. Being inside his head was almost too real at times.
6. Little Bee by Chris Cleave 27 January 2012 - Moving novel that made me think about our connection with all other humans. Always nice to try an author new to me and discovering an author to watch for.
5. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 22 January 2012 - Still surprised that I've read several novels, short story collections, etc by Atwood and had never read this novel that first brought her into forefront of 20th/21st century writers. It is amazing/frightening how her scenarios in this novel have become a part of society today. I see connections between this and The Scarlet Letter. I am anxious to read When She Woke because I anticipate making more connections.
4. Reading in Bed: Personal Essays on the Glories of Reading selected and edited by Steven Gilbar 22 January 2012 - This is a great anthology, and it has been moved to my permanent collection.
3. Eldest by Christopher Paolini 17 January 2012 - I forced myself to finish this one. I find parts interesting but I'm just not "into" elves, dwarves, monsters, and all of the weird names. It put me to sleep so often...I should get the next book to listen to as I fall asleep.
2. Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman 8 January 2012 - This novel grabbed me and never let go. I loved the narrative changes and the intertwining of a focus on The Tempest by Shakespeare. The island imagery - Greece/The Tempest/Osage St as an island within Philadelphia - I will read this one again because it is too much for just one reading.
1. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 1 January 2012 - I have seen this play in performance but don't believe I ever read it before today. Read this one as a possiblity for my 12th graders, and it will definitely be read and discussed in my classes.


Completed Reading - 2011




82. The Journals of Thornton Wilder, 1939-1961 selected and edited by Donald Gallup 31 December 2011 - The pleasure of reading the thoughts of a good writer cannot be described. I hated to finish reading this one.
81. Shakespeare's Trollop by Charlaine Harris 28 December 2011 - This is the 4th in the series, and I really need to listen to #2 and 3. Listened to this one and Shakespeare's Landlord on CD. Nice for the commute and great stories. I love Lily Bard!
80. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens 25 December 2011 - Not sure how many times I've read this, but I like being reminded that none of the movies capture every detail.
79. Stories of Christmas Time by Charles Dickens 22 December 2011 - This book is over 50 years old - possibly 60 years - and includes "The Holly Tree," "The Seven Poor Travelers," and "The Chimes." The first two focus on the tradition of travelers telling stories to entertain each other. I enjoyed the second one much more. "The Chimes" is really a story of the New Year and may be compared with A Christmas Carol in the use of visions and to teach a lesson. Glad I read them!
78. Hamlet by William Shakespeare 19 December 2011 - Read this with my 12th graders. I do love this play and am definitely in the double digits for number of times I've read it.
77. A Christmas Blizzard by Garrison Keillor 17 December 2011 - An entertaining read reminding us of the value of every moment.
76. Eragon by Christopher Paolini 16 December 2011 - A good adventure story. I probably wouldn't bother to read the series but as they are available on CD...listening is OK. Good narrator.
75. The Stupidest Angel by Christopher Moore 15 December 2011 - I laugh aloud every time I read this book and am not ashamed to do so in public. I also share whatever line has me laughing - if anyone asks. Just made my reading goal for the year and that feels good too.
74. Oogy by Larry Levin 30 November 2011 - Finished the month with a feel good memoir by a man I'd love to call my friend. And I've friended Oogy on facebook. :-) ONE more book to go and meet my yearly goal!
73. The Eighth Day by Thornton Wilder 27 November 2011 - Thank you Timothy Findley for inspiring me to read more Thornton Wilder. This novel gripped me both as a novel and for spiritual reasons. Definite 10 out of 10 for me.
72. Countdown by Deborah Wiles 24 November 2011 - This YA novel is listed as the first in a trilogy. It tells the story of a 5th grade girl and her family during the Cuban Missle Crisis. I enjoyed it because I was about that age and found the weaving of history and popular culture into the story interesting, but I'm not sure how the intended audience would take to the style.
71. Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer 11 November 2011 - This is the second book I've read by Krakauer, and I don't think he can write a bad book. Chris McCandless's life had a sad ending, but I think he did what he longed to do.
70. Burned by Ellen Hopkins 5 November 2011 - I enjoyed reading this YA novel for teens written in verse; however, even though the ending is ambiguous...I found it very disturbing. Anxious to hear what others think of the ending.
69. Shakespeare's Landlord by Charlaine Harris 4 November 2011 - A good mystery with interesting characters. I'll be watching for more novels by this author.
68. Unbearable Lightness, A Story of Loss and Gain by Portia de Rossi 2 November 2011 - My first purchased ebook. This is the story of an incredibly beautiful worman, who through telling this story is proving her beauty is more - much more - than skin deep. I admire her for telling of her life long struggle with weight. A wonderful, sometimes painful, story.
67. Gift from the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh 29 October 2011 - Enjoyed reading this book that was a gift in 1983. Gave me a deep respect for Mrs. Lindbergh.
66. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 24 October 2011 - My second reading of this book. I enjoyed it but not sure my 12th graders did. Interested in hearing what they have to say at our final discussion.
65. The Lives They Left Behind: Suitcases From a State Hospital Attic by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny 23 October 2011 - Interesting history of a NY state mental facility near my current location. Sad that things have not really changed much despite medical advances.
64. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling 20 October 2011 - My second time with this novel; I do enjoy Jim Dale's readings. For some reason the Harry Potter series arrived at the right time in my life. I know I'll read and listen to this series over and over again.
63. Why don't Students Like School? by Daniel T. Willingham 15 October 2011 - This book was definitely worth reading for a second time. I was able to digest and retain more information and create some Thinking Maps to use as a resource. An excellent book on how the mind works.
62. Beowulf in a translation by Burton Raffel 29 September 2011 - I had not read this in years and enjoyed reading it again. Wish my 12th graders did. :-)
61. The Finishing School by Muriel Spark 25 September 2011 - A good read but not sure I loved it. The ending was disappointing.
60. From Inquiry to Academic Writing: A Text 24 September 2011 - Not the book I would have chosen for my college level comp class, but I learned some new things.
59. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling 11 September 2011 - It has been long enough since my last read of this one that I had forgotten so much. On to another reading of Deathly Hallows - but not until October.
58. Whirligig by Paul Fleischman 3 September 2011 - One of my favorite novels so far this year. Multiple narrators, multiple levels of storytelling, themes, connections - definitely a book for teenagers with an easy reading level. OMG. I have already started a letter to the author.
57. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer 28 August 2011 - This was a great story line. Students love unambiguous happy endings; it's clear why this series was such a hit.
56. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer 21 August 2011 - Despite the disappointing writing, I enjoy the story line of this series. And I'll admit it; I want Bella to marry Edward and become immortal. Guess I'd better read Breaking Dawn. :-)
55. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer 17 August 2011 - Almost stopped reading after the birthday party but reminded myself these books were written for the teenage reader. I like the story line even if the writing sometimes feels contrived.
54. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 12 August 2011 - Just finished my second read of this novel. I read it in March of 2010 and now want to read the series so...had to have this fresh in my mind. I can understand why my students like it. Definitely feels like it was written with a young audience in mind.
53. The Perfect Scent by Chandler Burr 9 August 2011 - Not a book I would have chosen to read, but it came recommended by another Bookcrosser whose opinion I value. Very interesting reading and has me inhaling the world in a brand new way.
52. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 25 July 2011 - No idea how many times I've read this novel since purchasing it in 1969; however, I do find new things everytime I read it. There is much about the importance of memory - not just memorizing - and this together with learning about how the mind works has become a fascination of mine for the past few years. Love this book.
51. The Cat Who Knew Shakespeare by Lilian Jackson Braun 20 July 2011 - An entertaining and fun mystery. Characters' initials and names connect with Hamlet.
50. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder 19 July 2011 - So glad to have been reintroduced to Wilder through Findley. This novel has a powerful and timeless message. I'd like to use it with my lit classes at Alfred State.
49. Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art & Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer 15 July 2011 - Read this book because of my interest in memory and how the mind works. Although it is not a self help book, Foer explains several memorization techniques. Proof that anyone can improve his or her memory.
48. Three Plays by Thornton Wilder 6 July 2011 - Wanted to read something by Wilder because of his friendship with Timothy Findley. As The Matchmaker is included in Stratford's 2012 season, it seemed best to begin with plays. Our Town is a much more powerful play than I remembered; The Skin of Our Teeth also reflects the idea of things going on and on in cycles. The Matchmaker supports this as well but is just a farce.
47. The Woefield Poultry Collective by Susan Juby 4 July 2011 - A delightful tale of a young woman from NYC who inherits a farm in Canada and struggles to create a sustainable lifestyle. Like the two Richardson novels - laugh out loud hilarious.
46. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast Pillow Book by Bill Richardson 2 July 2011 - Another great read - strong vocabulary. "...all sad-eyed, thin and neurasthenic - sits a greyhound" (47).
45. Bachelor Brothers' Bed & Breakfast by Bill Richardson 1 July 2011 - Celebrated Canada Day by reading this hilarious, laugh out loud book about twin brothers who run a B&B in BC. Puns, literary allusions, Christopher Moore-like humor - I want my own copy of this book!
44. Thirteenth Night by Alan Gordon 28 June 2011 - Clever mystery that begins with the death of Orsino. Interesting, well written and fun! Will look for more of Gordon's mysteries.
43. Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare 18 June 2011 - How many times have I read this play? Reading it this time was like visitng with a friend, but I always see new things in every visit with the Bard.
42. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 16 June 2011 - Another joyful rendition through the voice of Jim Dale. This was almost like reading the book for the first time. There were so many things I did not remember at all - like another side being shown for Mrs. Dursley. The movie for this novel is definitely the most disappointing of the HP films.
41. American Rust by Philipp Meyer 12 June 2011 - Very dark realistic fiction/mystery. I did enjoy it.
40. The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley 5 June 2011 - I still have reservations about the credibility of Flavia as an 11 year old in 1950s England; however, I've decided to view these as modern Nancy Drew style for younger readers.
39. Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick 3 June 2011 - Read this one with my 5th graders and loved it. The film is very different plot wise but beautifully captures the spirit of the novel and the characters.
38. The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley 30 May 2011 - Still not sure I am completely satisfied with the believability of the 11 year old narrator, but I did enjoy this novel and am currently reading the second Flavia de Luce mystery. There is an historical error that bothers me. I hope it is corrected in later editions.
37. Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson 27 May 2011 - Really enjoyed this mystery that made me work and longing for more. Will be reading her earlier novels. I love her use of literary and other cultural allusions. Very engaging.
36. The Homecoming by Harold Pinter 21 May 2011 - Looking forward to seeing this in performance at Stratford in August. I thought I had read or seen this play already, but it is a Pinter that was new to me. I need to read more Pinter.
35. Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom 19 May 2011 - I put off reading this because when I hear "you've gotta read this" from many people, I am usually disappointed. However, I did enjoy this memoir.
34. The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty 18 May 2011 - A great read. I've had this book since it came out in paperback in 1972. LOL And - of course - it is better than the movie; although, except for the ending the movie is well done.
33. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Thirteenth The End by Lemony Snicket 14 May 2011 - Finally have finished reading this series. Glad I stuck it out because the last book is definitely better than the "penultimate." However, he did drag it on for about twice as many volumes as necessary. I still like his introduction of vocabulary and literary allusions but the series is a disappointment.
32. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Twelfth The Penultimate Peril by Lemony Snicket 13 May 2011 - My least favorite so far - in fact...if I wasn't just one away from reading the entire series, I would not bother reading any more of them.
31. Chekhov by Henri Troyat 7 May 2011 - An interesting but slow reading biography.
30. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling 27 April 2011 - Loved listening to Jim Dale read this one. I swear listening to the HP novels takes longer because I listen to some parts more than once. :-)
29. Wild Honey by Michael Frayn 22 April 2011 - A comedy from the play without a name by Anton Chekhov - I loved this play and it was a wonderful followup to all of the Chekhov I've been reading. Hope to see it in performance some day.
28. The Plays of Chekhov by Anton Chekhov 22 April 2011 - I decided to read Chekhov's plays after my journey through Timothy Findley. He wrote about how much he loved Chekhov. Really got so much more out of them while considering his comments on them along with the intro by another actor in this 1930 edition I have. I've seen all of his full length plays - now I want to see them in performance again!
27. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Eleventh The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket 9 April 2011 - Just one more to read from this series. This one was better than #10.
26. Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose 7 April 2011 - This was a great read, and the timing of reading it during our spring break was perfect. My 7th grade students were reviewing the Lewis and ClarK Expedition on our first day back in social studies class, so I was able to talk about the book and share some things I found on line in English class.
25. The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon: Four Stories by Crockett Johnson 4 April 2011 - Bought this book on sale before the holidays because I remembered reading the first one as a child. It gave me a wonderful idea for an interdisciplinary project with the art teacher that we'll be using sometime during May.
24. Not Under Forty by Willa Cather 31 March 2011 - A nice way to bring another month of reading to a close. This is a small collection of essays by Cather. There was only one that did not interest me much.
23. Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements 30 March 2011 - I read Frindle to my 5th graders in the fall, and they liked it so much I offered to read another novel by Clement to them. It has taken us longer than I expected. It is a much longer book and with other class activities and vacations and snow days - there were many delays. A great read and now the kids want me to read the sequel to them.
22. The Bloody Man by Bevan Underhill 27 March 2011 - An interesting murder mystery set in Stratford, Ontario, Canada. Not great writing but the story was good.
21. Mrs. Caliban by Rachel Ingalls 26 March 2011 - This was a disappointment. It is a modern fable, but the writing did not evoke the passion I expected.
20. Wild Animals I Have Known by Ernest Thompson Seton 26 March 2011 - Findley mentioned reading this book as a child and going to the Don Mill Valley to see where the partridge lived. I bought this book after reading A Reader's Delight by Noel Perrin. Seton's stories are enjoyable and realistic.
19. Journeyman: Travels of a Writer by Timothy Findley 21 March 2011 - I just finished reading this book edited by William Whitehead. Reading all of Findley's published books has been the most satisfying reading experience of my life. I am borrowing his tribute to Arthur Miller as the only suitable tribute I can offer to him. "Zero. That's the number of times I've met Timothy Findley, the man. I cannot count the number of times, however, I have met the greatness of his genius and of his spirit. Mister Findley - I salute you."
18. The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad 15 March 2011 - I hope I can do justice with this book when I teach it to my intro to lit class.
17. Spadework by Timothy Findley 12 March 2011 - The last novel by Findley. Different in some ways - it began and ended on a lighter note. All the dark topics are there but handled in a different way. It was fun to read because of the Stratford setting and theatrical setting.
16. The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien 8 March 2011 - This is more than a novel about Vietnam; it is a novel about storytelling. I've read it three times now and will probably read it again.
15. Sabine's Notebook by Nick Bantock 3 March 2011 - See note for #14.
14. Griffin & Sabine An Extraordinary Correspondence by Nick Bantock 1 March 2011 - Thought I'd start out the month with a couple of quick reads. Discovered that this and the next book, which I bought when they first came out, are much more than beautiful illustrations and clever styling. Both were intriguing reads, and I'll probably look for the other books - there's at least one more.
13. My Mortal Enemy by Willa Cather 27 February 2011 - I just fall into anything by Cather and become one with the world she creates. What a fabulous way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
12. A Series of Unfortunate Events Book the Tenth The Slippery Slope by Lemony Snicket 26 February 2011 - Only two more to read in this series. This one had some neat, if silly, literary allusions in it.
11. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston 25 February 2011 - Loved this modern classic. The odd thing is I know that I read it - at least more than half of it - at some point in my adult life because of the marginalia; however, it was like a first read this time. I had absolutely no memories of the plot. Weird...
10. The Best Laid Plans by Terry Fallis 24 February 2011 - Winner of Canada Reads 2011 and the Stephen Leacock Award for Humor - this is a HILARIOUS novel. I'm talking laugh out loud in public places funny. Just loved it.
9. Pilgrim by Timothy Findley 19 February 2011 - If I had more time to read this month, I would have finished this book in less than a week. 10 stars and I'll be reading it again. Jung, myths, history, art, literature...so many levels and so much to think about.
8. From Stone Orchard, A Collection of Memories by Timothy Findley 1 February 2011 - Read most of this delightful collection today, and it was the perfect selection for my first snow day of the school year. Allusions and references to other works by Findley and other writers. This is a wonderful collection of essays on life, friendship, and all topics radiating from the heart of Findley's home, of many years, in the Ontario countryside. I now have memories of a place I've never seen. His writing is so vivid; he really has become one of my favorite authors.
7. A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book the Ninth, The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket 29 January 2011 - The clever use of vocabulary that hooked me to this series is not as prevalent in these later volumes, but I still want to find out how the series ends. Glad I'm getting them at the library rather than spending money on them.
6. The South Beach Diet by Arthur Agatston, M.D. 26 January 2011 - This diet worked for me before - then I lost my job and depression eating kicked in. I'm ready to do this again and knew that reading the book would help me jumpstart my desire.
5. Dust to Dust by Timothy Findley 24 January 2011 - Another amazing collection of short stories by Findley.
4. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan 23 January 2011 - A great novel for my students, and it came recommended by several of them. Looking forward to the rest of Percy Jackson's adventures.
3. You Went Away by Timothy Findley 15 January 2011 - Another haunting novel - novella by Findley and find myself thinking of all the threads woven throughout his writing. Boys coming of age really stood out in this one although it is not the main story line.
2. The Rise of Life on Earth by Joyce Carol Oates 9 January 2011 - This is the first Oates I've read in several years and while finding it gripping, I still have questions about it. I do need to read more of her works and have many of them on my shelves. The nature of this novella certainly fit well with The Piano Man's Daughter. I do like darker novels.
1. The Piano Man's Daughter by Timothy Findley 8 January 2011 - Another novel by Findley that leaves me feeling overwhelmed by the quality of his writing. 10 out of 10 and a great start to 2011.