I'm going to be going back to school in a few weeks, starting some training for a new position in the school and starting an 'A' Level which I will have to make myself work at for 8-9 hours each week, so I'm going to be dead busy come September. This list is really for me to keep track of all my challenges so I can see what is happening and how far behind I'm falling in some of them!
Southern Reading Challenge (3/3) Finishes 15/08/08
Young Adult Challenge (12/12) Finishes 31/12/08
2nds Challenge (1/4) Sept 01 - Dec 31st 2008
2008 Booker Challenge (4/6) 31/12/08
Short Story Reading Challenge (1/5) Finishes 31/12/08
Japanese Literature Challenge (1/3) Finshes 30/12/08
The Classics Challenge (5/6) 31/12/08
New Classics Challenge (0/6) Finishes 31/01/09
Unread Authors Challenge (9/6) Finishes 31/01/09
The Canadian Book Challenge (0/13) Finishes 01/07/09
The Awards Challenge (o/10) Finishes 01/06/09
RIP III (3/4) Finishes 31/10/08
Saturday, 9 August 2008
Thursday, 7 August 2008
My Thoughts: The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird
After the mamouth task of getting Gone with the Wind finished I fancied something dead easy, that I would finish quickly and I would love. I picked this book up for just 10p in the library sale this week and just assumed I would love it because of the topic.
The book is about 2 little boys, whose lives would never had crossed if they had both not run away. Dani, comes from a rich family, his mother dotes on him, but his father is very demanding and Dani just can't live up to his fathers expectations. When Dani's mother travels to England for an operation Dani decides he can't face the punishment his father has given him so he decides to runaway. Having always been rich just one afternoon on the streets has him quacking in his boots.
Mamo, has grown up living in a shack, his mum bringing home just enough money to get by each week. She suddenly dies, and an 'uncle' appears telling Mamo he has a job for him to do. This 'uncle' is really someone who sells children. Faor a while Mamo lives in the coutryside with his new violent employer until he can face no more. He runs back to the city.
On his first night in the city he spends the night curled up next to Dani. While Mamo clearly understands what he needs to do to live on the street, Dani doesn't have a clue. To help them survive they join a gang, almost a little family, where they beg and work to get money to feed the group.
Now, I was expecting this to be one of those heart wrenching novels, I was expecting tears streaming down my face but the story just didn't grab me. The situation seemed to forced and the characters not fully formed. However, this book got 4 and a half stars on Amazon so it may just be me.
Challenge:
YA Challenge Book 6 of 12
Reading around the World: Ethiopia
Booking Through Thursday: Fantasy Worlds
Are there any particular worlds in books where you’d like to live?
I'm sure like other people I would like to disappear of into the fantasy worlds that authors create rather than the real thing. I think either the magical world of Harry Potter, I could be a teacher at Hogwarts, or much more fun a student. Unfortunately I'd probably the Hermione type as I always did my homework on time. Or, maybe off to Narnia, but when it was nice not when the witch was in control. I could have afternoon tea with Mr Tumnas and hot crumpets. Or the world of Faerie in Stardust. I could name loads, they all seem to include magical creatures and dragons.
Or where you certainly would NOT want to live?
Hmm, there are books about wars and the holocaust and things like that, I wouldn't want to live in that world at that time, though I'm sure that after the war it is a nice place to explore or live.
What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?
Not sure, someone with a vivid imagination who could make it really exciting!
I'm sure like other people I would like to disappear of into the fantasy worlds that authors create rather than the real thing. I think either the magical world of Harry Potter, I could be a teacher at Hogwarts, or much more fun a student. Unfortunately I'd probably the Hermione type as I always did my homework on time. Or, maybe off to Narnia, but when it was nice not when the witch was in control. I could have afternoon tea with Mr Tumnas and hot crumpets. Or the world of Faerie in Stardust. I could name loads, they all seem to include magical creatures and dragons.
Or where you certainly would NOT want to live?
Hmm, there are books about wars and the holocaust and things like that, I wouldn't want to live in that world at that time, though I'm sure that after the war it is a nice place to explore or live.
What about authors? If you were a character, who would you trust to write your life?
Not sure, someone with a vivid imagination who could make it really exciting!
My Thoughts: The Fragrance of Guava: Conversations with Gabriel Garcia Marquez by Mendoza (and a challange round up).
I saw this book in the library sale and picked it up out of curiosity, it's not the type I would buy in a bookshop, as I don't tend to get past the fiction section, but it was a really good read.
The book is an interview with Gabriel Garcia Marquez by an obviously close and personal friend Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza. It is clear to see the friendship in the questions Mendoza asks and the way he joins in or finishes Marquez's answers.
The interview covers a whole range of subjects, including Marquez's childhood, life as a struggling writer, politics, personal and literary influences, fame, superstition and obviously his thoughts of the books that he has written.
At only 120 pages this book was a quick read but filled with tons of information, and it has made me want to read more of Marquez's work.
Challenge:
Book 6 of 6 for the What's in a Name? Challenge
The 20th Century Project: Book 9 of 100 (1983)
What's in a Name Challenge
Another challenge completed! For this challenge you had to read 6 books, each books title must relate to a particular topic. Here is what I read:
3. First Name = Elizabeth Costello
4. Place = Breakfast at Tiffany's
5. Weather = Gone with the Wind
6. Flower = The Fragrance of Guava
4. Place = Breakfast at Tiffany's
5. Weather = Gone with the Wind
6. Flower = The Fragrance of Guava
My favorite book by far was Gone with the Wind, with Breakfast at Tiffany's running up in second place. Moon Tiger was the only book I didn't think was a good read.
Wednesday, 6 August 2008
My Thoughts: Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell
It has taken me a very, very long time to read this, but I have enjoyed every page. I have never seen the film or knew a great deal about the story except Rhett and Scarlett's name so everything was all new to me.
As I'm sure most people know this novel focuses on just 12years in the life of Scarlett O'Hara. In that 12 years she faces a lifetimes worth of events and emotions. From a flighty, flirty and selfish teenage with a spread of men laid at her feet for her choosing, she ends up in a loveless marriage because she couldn't have the one man she wanted. This marriage leaves her a mother and a widow by the age of 17. The war betweeen the Yankees in the north and the south rages, at first leaving Scarlett with a sence of freedom and then a series of burdens and worries. Scarltett's fierce soul helps here battle her way to safety, fight poverty and kill a man so she can keep the hous that she loves going and in her possession. For the safety of this house and those in it she enters yet another love less marriage and produces yet another unwanted child. She is yet again left a widow and marries the Scalleywag Rhett Butler, a marriage full of passion, hatred, lies and deciet.
As much as Scarlett should be a hated character I couldn't help but like her determination, her way of getting what she needed - yes she was spiteful, and self absorbed but the reader always seemed to be kept on her side, in the knowledge that deep down she wasn't as strong as she liked to show. Melly, took a while to capture me, but she was created with a weak body and a stong mind and soul. Yet the most captivating character in the novel was Rhett, we had to learn to read the expressions on his face, just as Scarlett had to try and decipher them. We never knew how he was going to react to any situation, or to Scarlett's scorn. I loved all the passages about him with Bonnie, a way to love Scarlett through another person.
I shall definately get my own copy of this book, as I'd love to read it again in the future, and I shall hire the film in the next few weeks to see how it compares. The best book I've read this year by far.
Challenges:
The Southern Challenge Book 2 of 3
The Classics Challenge Book 4 of 5
Unread Authors Challenge Book 2 of 6
What's in a Name Book 5 of 6 (Weather)
20th Century Project 1936
Pulitzer Project Book 11 of 81
If anyone has reviewed this, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I'll add it in
Monday, 4 August 2008
My Thoughts: Apache by Tanya Landman
My second read of the Carnegie shortlist, and another fantastic read, another to be added to the recommended reads wall in my classroom.
Apache is a novel about a teenage girl living in an Apache tribe, having seen her young brother killed brutally by the Mexicans and having lost both of her parents, she seeks to avenge her brothers killers. Although female warriors are not the norm, there are no rules governing that a female annot become a warrior if she can pass the tests, so she takes the trials and does well fighting beside the men in bloody and violent battles.
Not everyone within her tribe is happy with her path as a warrior, seeing it as against the nature of women. As a result she comes up against battles whilst at home and away. Keste a local youth is enraged when she becomes a warrior, his battle against her causes rifts and violence, and the unravellings of the secret of her fathers death.
As the novel progresses the Apache tribes no longer have to fear just the Mexicans but with amore brutal degree the white men, who have come to claim the land, and who do not follow the rules when it comes to battles.
Landman tells the tale with a sparse language, she does not jumble the page with countless adjectives and poetic sentences, this created the voice of the character for me, giving her depth. I assume in America the tales and history of the Apache are taught in schools, and a lot of what is in this book about their lives and culture isn't new to an American readership. I, however, enjoyed reading about their culture, in particular their spiritual beliefs. The battles are described from a first person account so may be deemed by some as too violent for a childrens book, but I have read books about life in the treches to kids at school which are just as violent.
Challenges:
Young Adult Challenge Book 5 of 12
Unread Authors Challenge Book 1of 6
Other Reviews
Table Talk's excellent review here
If you have reviewed this book please leave a link to your review and I'll add it in.
Apache is a novel about a teenage girl living in an Apache tribe, having seen her young brother killed brutally by the Mexicans and having lost both of her parents, she seeks to avenge her brothers killers. Although female warriors are not the norm, there are no rules governing that a female annot become a warrior if she can pass the tests, so she takes the trials and does well fighting beside the men in bloody and violent battles.
Not everyone within her tribe is happy with her path as a warrior, seeing it as against the nature of women. As a result she comes up against battles whilst at home and away. Keste a local youth is enraged when she becomes a warrior, his battle against her causes rifts and violence, and the unravellings of the secret of her fathers death.
As the novel progresses the Apache tribes no longer have to fear just the Mexicans but with amore brutal degree the white men, who have come to claim the land, and who do not follow the rules when it comes to battles.
Landman tells the tale with a sparse language, she does not jumble the page with countless adjectives and poetic sentences, this created the voice of the character for me, giving her depth. I assume in America the tales and history of the Apache are taught in schools, and a lot of what is in this book about their lives and culture isn't new to an American readership. I, however, enjoyed reading about their culture, in particular their spiritual beliefs. The battles are described from a first person account so may be deemed by some as too violent for a childrens book, but I have read books about life in the treches to kids at school which are just as violent.
Challenges:
Young Adult Challenge Book 5 of 12
Unread Authors Challenge Book 1of 6
Other Reviews
Table Talk's excellent review here
If you have reviewed this book please leave a link to your review and I'll add it in.
Sunday, 3 August 2008
Sunday Salon and a Meme
I haven't been as great at reading this week, the weather has been grey and overcast for days with rain threatening so I haven't been sitting in the garden with a book like I was last week. I managed to get finished 2 books and two books are well on the go. The end of the week got taken up by planning for the next school year (I still have 4 weeks holiday, but I thought whilst I was in the mood I'd get on with it).
This week I need to finish Bellefleur by Joyce Carol Oates, Gone with the Wind and Apache plus try and start Theft by Peter Carey.
I've also been thinking about my reading plans for August, here is the huge list I'd like to get through:
Finish the Southern reading challenge, I need to finish Gone With the Wind and Cold Mountain.
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
The View from Africa, various authors
Blood River, Butcher
Frankie and Stankie, Trapido
A Woman of my Age, Bawden
Pawn of Prophecy,Eddings
Apache, Landman (from the Carnegie shortlist)
What I Loved, Hustvedt
The Valkynes, Coehlo
In Cold Blood, Truman Capote
The Reluctant Fundamentalist
The View from Africa, various authors
Blood River, Butcher
Frankie and Stankie, Trapido
A Woman of my Age, Bawden
Pawn of Prophecy,Eddings
Apache, Landman (from the Carnegie shortlist)
What I Loved, Hustvedt
The Valkynes, Coehlo
Theft, Peter Carey
The War of the Worlds, HG Wells
Gods Behaving Badly, Phillips
A Meme, gautami tripathy posted this for us Sunday Saloners to complete:
1. Who’s your all-time favorite author, and why?
I don't have one favorite author, but a few that I know I'll love their work: Sarah Waters, JK Rowling, Phillip Pullman, the Brontes, Jane Austen, A.S Bayatt - the list varies on a regular basis.
Marquez. Atwood. I name here only a miniscule. Amongst new authors, I liked Jay Asher and Mathias B. Freese.
2. Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?
Either Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. I haven't picked up an Enid Blyton book in years, but when I have kids I'll make sure I read her to them. As for Dahl, I'm teaching two of his books this year and I reguarly use his poetry in school, I think I enjoy it just as much if not more than the kids.
3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favorite authors, and why?
Marquez. Atwood. I name here only a miniscule. Amongst new authors, I liked Jay Asher and Mathias B. Freese.
2. Who was your first favorite author, and why? Do you still consider him or her among your favorites?
Either Enid Blyton or Roald Dahl. I haven't picked up an Enid Blyton book in years, but when I have kids I'll make sure I read her to them. As for Dahl, I'm teaching two of his books this year and I reguarly use his poetry in school, I think I enjoy it just as much if not more than the kids.
3. Who’s the most recent addition to your list of favorite authors, and why?
I loved the Neil Gaiman stuff and Will Self who I have read recently, I'd never tried any of this type of stuff before because I assumed I wouldn't like it, but I was gripped.
I've also discovered Paulo Coelho this year, both the books I read where thought provoking, and I definately plan to read more.
4. Tagged: All you Sunday Saloners, consider yourself tagged.
4. Tagged: All you Sunday Saloners, consider yourself tagged.
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