Let the Sun Shine . . .

I think I mentioned before that I'm embarking on another year of reading new books (or rereading books I haven't read in years in one case). I'm paper journaling, since I'm expecting my students to do so, but I'm also keeping a record here - with reviews for some of them.

Here's my list so far:

1. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg *
2. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
3. Digging to America by Anne Tyler *
4. A Long Way from Chicago by Richard Peck
5. A Year Down Yonder by Richard Peck
6. Mary Anne and the Little Princess by Ann M Martin
7. The Reading Environment by Aidan Chambers
8. Stacey's Secret Friend by Ann M Martin
9. On Tour with the Ballet School Mal Lewis Jones
10. Gemma by Noel Streatfield *
11. Gemma and Sisters by Noel Streatfield *
12. The Secret Life of Mary Anne Spier by Ann M Martin
13. Sisters: Phoebe by Marilyn Kaye
14. Davita's Harp by Chaim Potok *

* = review to come

I've also reread the Drina books I have and some of the Cherubs - but I reread them so often they don't count.

Books to be read:

The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler
The Uncommon Reader by Alan Bennett
It's Your Time You're Wasting: A Teacher's Tale of Classroom Hell by Frank Chalk

along with a pile of children's classics I want to read before I recommend them to my students

(I will get through these. I will)

Book 88: Our Enemy, My Friend by Jenny Blackman

When Father said grace he prayed for our German friends. I thought that was a bit strange. What can possibly happen to them in a quiet village like Wirreebilla, so far away from the war?

( Another My Story book )

I still have ten book reviews to get through *g*

Book 84: The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

As he stood up, Langdon was beginning to suspect it was going to be a very long night.

( A rather unknown book . . .  )

Book 85: Bend it Like Beckham by Narinder Dhami

"Anyone can cook aloo gobi," I muttered. "But who can bend a ball like Beckham?"

( Almost as cute as the movie )

The book post after OD-ing on Sweet Valley Twins books

Book 81: Elizabeth's First Kiss by Jamie Suzanne

”While we're at it, I could show you a few makeup tricks, too. After all, if you're going to change your hair, you might as well try some other new looks”

( Elizabeth and Todd 4Eva )

Book 82: The Middle School Gets Married by Jamie Suzanne

Inside the basket were eggs. Lots of eggs. Some of them had pink stickers on them, and some of them had blue stickers.

( The Egg Experiment )

Book 83: The Battle of the Cheerleaders by Jamie Suzanne

”Let's vote. Who wants to start the first all-girl basketball team at SVMS?”
Eleven voices yelled aye, clear and loud.
“So it's set,” Jessica said triumphantly. “As of tomorrow, we're a team!”

( The feminist Sweet Valley Twins )

Yes, I'm a little behind here. I've read 84 books now, but I'm only up to reviewing 75. Hopefully I'll get some more out of the way in the next day or so.

Book 70: So Mote It Be by Isobel Bird

”The Come to Me Love Spell should be used when you want to attract the attention of someone special” she read. “It will draw love to you and make you irresistible.”

( In time honoured tradition of love spells . . . )

Book 71 - 73: Winging It. Losing the Plot and Flying High by Annie Dalton

Apparently when some people arrive on The Other Side, as my Great Nan used to call it, they take one look and go, “oh, hello, I must have died and gone to heaven!”

But I was only thirteen. It didn't occur to me that I was dead.

( The Heavenly Collection )

Book 74: Here Today by Ann M. Martin

In 1963, Ellie's mother, Doris Day Dingman, was crowned the Bosetti Beauty at Mr. Bosetti's supermarket. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, and the Dingman's began to fall apart.

( Another Post BSC Book )

Book 75: Lauren: Seeing Stars by Jennie Walters

”We're so alike . . . you could be my kid sister!”

( Yet another instant starlet )

BTW: If anyone's interested in looking at all the (new) books I've read this year in one place - I've set up an account at Library Thing for that purpose. You can find my profile right here and then look at my catalogue from there.

Book 62: Charm School by Anne Fine

"All day I want to see your Prettiest Eyes and your Prettiest Smiles!"

( Charming? )

Book 63: The Sleep-Over Secret by Judy Katschke

"I have just one question," Mary-Kate Burke said. She unwrapped her peanut butter sandwich in the school lunchroom. "Why do they call them sleepovers if nobody ever sleeps?"

( I actually read a Mary-Kate and Ashley book . . . )

Book 64: Spy High: The Frankenstein Factory by A. J. Butcher

Senior Tutor Elmore Grant sighed and ran his hands through his worryingly greying hair. It was a gesture he allowed himself only when sitting alone in his darkened study at Spy High, as he was now.

( Futuristic Children Spies )

Book 65: Stealing Stacey by Lynne Reid Banks

It was mid-afternoon when we finally turned off the road and drove along the dirt track for about a mile. On each side of us was just more desert, not empty desert but red sand dotted with low bushes and a few mulga trees, mostly dead. Then I saw the station.

( Review with Home and Away reference here )

Book 66: Finding Serenity edited by Jane Espenson

Damndest thing about Firefly is that sometimes it made me feel like I was coming home

( Review here )

There are still three more books to catch up on, but I'm too tired for that now.

A smaller list this month - I was a little busy with moving etc.

Number of books read: 11
Best Book Read: Twins (Marcy Dermansky)
Worst Book Read: Devil's Food (Kerry Greenwood)
Longest Book Read: Twins (Marcy Dermansky) 308 pages
Shortest Book Read: Almost Ten and a Half (Candice F Ransom) 168 pages

Number of pages read this month: 2682
Number of pages read this year: 12360

( The Books )

Number of books read: 12
Best Books Read: Bee Season (Myra Goldberg), The Birth of a New Moon (Laurie R. King), The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (Terry Ryan)
Worst Book Read: Until Death (Sandy Curtis)
Longest Book Read: Tipping the Velvet (Sarah Waters) 472 pages
Shortest Book Read: Kristy and the Vampires (Ann M Martin) 145 pages

Number of pages read this month: 3846
Number of pages read this year: 9533



( The Books )