July Random Read

This is a meme hosted by Sarah at imlovingbooks.com. You can choose to use Goodreads or create your own list or use your bookshelves. The idea is to use random.org and type in the number of books on your list. Whatever number you receive is your random read for the month. I have decided at least for the first few months to use the books on my Kindle as my list. I buy or get free far too many books on my Kindle and then never read them. I now have 290 books on my Kindle, which means I only added 8 books last month compared to the 23 the month before. Still I am terrible. I did finish and review Prodigy my May read and I finished Achieving Apollo my June read and I will be reviewing that very soon. This month's number is 197, which is Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama. This is a creepy mermaid tale. This sounds a bit dark and I don't like to read rape scenes, but I will give it a try.
?

View the original article here

Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman

I picked up this books as one to possibly booktalk with 5th graders and I think the appeal would definitely be there. This is the first book in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series. The cover is appropriately creepy! It actually moves from an unsmiling older teacher to this:
?

Robert Arthur is not excited about starting a new school. All his friends are going to a different middle school and even though Lovecraft Middle School is state of the art, he would rather be with his friends. Things only seem to get worse on his first day. His bully is at the school, he has zero friends, and all the lockers are full of white rats. Things finally seem to change when he gets to go to the school library. It is huge and full of secrets, including a secret attic where he finds his first friend, a two-headed rat he names Pip and Squeak. With Pip and Squeak, Robert learns a dangerous secret, one that could destroy the world and one involving his science teacher.

I think that the concept of going to middle school will appeal to 5th graders and that of the "monsters" of Lovecraft. I won't give too much away, but I think the mysteries of the school will keep readers interested in the series. The book was a quick read and the dialogue sounds natural to lower middle school students. The violence and scare factor are appropriate to upper elementary and lower middle school readers. As an adult, I liked the storyline and the you got to read the next one to find out ending.

Favorite Character: Robert is a likeable character. He is loyal to his friends, willing to forgive, and brave.

Favorite Quote: This is more of a description than quote. "The Lovecraft Middle School library was nearly as big as a gymnasium. A steel-and-glass ceiling arched grandly overhead, filling the room with a warm natural light. Huge bookshelves twisted along the perimeter like the walls of a labyrinth; it would be easy to get lost in them for hours at a time, Robert thought." Sounds like a good library to me!

I think this would be an interesting read for 5th grade and a good book to booktalk. 4 cups of cocoa.

View the original article here

July Random Read

This is a meme hosted by Sarah at imlovingbooks.com. You can choose to use Goodreads or create your own list or use your bookshelves. The idea is to use random.org and type in the number of books on your list. Whatever number you receive is your random read for the month. I have decided at least for the first few months to use the books on my Kindle as my list. I buy or get free far too many books on my Kindle and then never read them. I now have 290 books on my Kindle, which means I only added 8 books last month compared to the 23 the month before. Still I am terrible. I did finish and review Prodigy my May read and I finished Achieving Apollo my June read and I will be reviewing that very soon. This month's number is 197, which is Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama. This is a creepy mermaid tale. This sounds a bit dark and I don't like to read rape scenes, but I will give it a try.
?

View the original article here

Prodigy by Marie Lu

This is the second book in the Legend series and this review will have spoilers for Legend, but should be ok for Prodigy.

?

Day and June have escaped from his execution, but with the loss of Day's brother and with Day seriously injured. They both know their only hope lies with the Patriots and so make their way to Vegas and the Patriots' hidden headquarters. Kaede, a Patriot who recently helped the two, leads them to Razor, the leader of the Patriots. Razor agrees to help June and Day, if they will assassinate the new Elector Primo. June is sent back to the Republic as a repentant with information about an attempted assassination. After she gets back into his good graces, she will lead him to the real assassination. Day in the meanwhile is training and is reunited with Tess, who is in love with him. Tess plants seeds of doubt about June in Day's head. June is reunited with Anden, the new Elector Primo, and begins to doubt the Patriot's plan and sees Anden as a revolutionary who can work from within to fix the Republic. Dangerous choices must be made and can a new love survive betrayals and the truth?

It took me about a month to finish the book and it was so worth it. There is so much to think about with this series. Could we ever turn into the two different societies presented in this novel? The materialism of the Colonies and the militaristic state of the Republic are possibilities if we do not remain vigilant. Deep, deep thoughts indeed. Beside all the deep thinking, the romance is perfect in this book and the guilt and questions experienced by June and Day seems real. This is a story where consequences are very real and wrong choices lead to destruction.

Favorite Character: They are all so well-developed. June and Day definitely captured my heart. June is a strong heroine who truly learns to think for herself. Day is a strong hero who sacrifices for others. They are the perfect match, but also a horrible match. Their story is both heart-breaking and uplifting.

Favorite Quote: This was also a hard choice.
"'The first time I kissed you.... Well, that might as well have been my first kiss ever.'"  "He is beauty, inside and out. He is the silver lining in a world of darkness. He is my light."

Lu is an awesome writer and the long read makes the story even better. This will definitely be in my top ten this year and possibly number one. The ending will leave you breathless. 5 cups of cocoa!!

View the original article here

Summer Lovin' Read-a-thon Reading Updates

I decided to keep my updates in a separate post from the participation posts.

Day 1 update
Currently reading: Opal, Pretty Little Liars, Will of the Empress (audio)
Pages/Percent/CD read: Opal- 1%, Pretty Little Liars-30 pages, Will of the Empress- 1 CD
Mini-challenges- 1 Teaser Tidbits
New blogs following: Book Beats, Reading is my Treasure, and Effortlessly Reading

View the original article here